,      \0? 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 


Sons  of  the  Rhine 

(Die  Wiskottens) 


By 
RUDOLF  HERZOG 

Author  of  "The  Adventurer" 

Translated  by 
LOUISE  T.  LAZELL 


New  York 
Desmond  FitzGerald,  Inc. 


Copyright,  1914 
By  DESMOND  FITZGERALD,  INC. 


ED'S  BOOK  SHOP 

Bocks,  Magazines,  Stationery 
Noveltis.i  and  Greeting  Cards 

1808  F'ACIFiC  AVENUE 
VENICE,  CALIFORNIA 

CHAPTER  I 

"  IT'S  after  closing  hours,  gentlemen ! "  Loud  laughter 
from  without  drowned  this  protest,  the  great  doorknob 
was  rattled  impatiently  with  cries  of — "  Open,  Overam ! 
We  want  just  a  drop  of  beer!" 

"  Then  go  back  and  get  it  where  you've  been  carousing 
all  evening.  Mine's  not  good  enough  for  you !  " 

"  Overam,  you  greedy  dog,  don't  other  tavern-keepers 
have  to  pay  for  their  licenses  too !  " 

"  Overam,  this  will  be  the  first  we've  had,  and  the  best 
ccmes  first!" 

"  Herr  Abraham  Schulte !  You  ought  to  be  running  a 
coffee-house  in  the  Fischertal;  you  lack  the  human  sym- 
pathy of  a  real  innkeeper." 

"  Go  and  give  up  your  license  when  the  town  council 
meets  tomorrow ! " 

"  Open ! " 

Suddenly  the  great  door  creaked  and  flew  open  and 
the  heavy-set  form  of  the  innkeeper  appeared  on  the 
threshold.  He  was  in  his  shirtsleeves  with  a  beefy  fist 
on  either  hip,  his  militant  gray  beard  standing  out  from 
his  face  like  a  frill.  Blinking,  to  accustom  his  eyes  to 
the  dark,  he  peered  sharply  out  into  the  street. 

"  Well  then — which  of  you  gentlemen  wants  a  cold 
plunge  in  the  Wupper?  By  all  that's  holy,  I'll  throw  the 
first  one  who  opens  his  mouth  into  the  river." 

A  sudden  silence  fell  on  the  group  of  six  huddled  to- 
gether on  the  snow-wet  sidewalk.  Then  a  broad-shoul- 
dered fellow  with  merry,  insolent  eyes  stepped  forward. 

2136231 


2  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

"Overam,  I  offer  myself  as  the  victim.  Only  I  must 
go  into  your  inn  first  and  make  my  will,  my  last  will 
and  testament." 

"Yes,  yes,  indeed!    His  will!    We'll  be  the  witnesses." 

"  Just  look  at  them ! "  said  the  innkeeper,  unmoved  by 
their  foolishness.  "  I  might  have  known.  If  anyone 
makes  a  racket  in  Barmen  it's  sure  to  be  a  Wiskotten — 
and  here  we  are — all  six  of  'em.  I'm  performing  a  deed 
of  charity  in  bringing  you  in  off  the  streets.  But  I  beg 
of  you,  walk  slowly.  In  the  first  place,  my  old  woman's 
asleep;  in  the  second,  I'm  not  on  speakin'  terms  with  the 
new  night  watchman." 

Cautiously,  on  tiptoe,  the  six  filed  through  the  door. 
They  were  a  fine,  robust  lot,  the  oldest  barely  thirty,  the 
youngest  still  in  his  teens. 

"Well,  well,  here's  the  whole  bloomin'  Wiskotten 
brotherhood,  even  including  Herr  August." 

"What  makes  you  say  that?  Why,  even  I?  "  said  the 
third  one  to  enter.  He  was  the  only  clean-shaven  one  in 
the  group,  as  even  the  youngest  boasted  a  downy  attempt 
on  his  upper  lip.  His  face  twitched  nervously  as  he  put 
the  question. 

"  Now,  now,"  deprecated  the  host,  "  I  only  thought 
there  were  church  services  tonight." 

"  That's  none  of " 

"My  business?  You're  right.  And  here's  Benjamin, 
too.  What?  Is  he  allowed  to  drink  after  midnight?" 

Meanwhile  the  door  had  been  closed  and  locked.  The 
eldest  of  the  brothers  wiped  the  snowflakes  from  his 
blond  mustache,  grasped  his  host  with  one  hand  and 
his  brother  with  the  other,  and  shoved  them  face  to  face. 

"  Now !  I  demand  respectful  attention  and  beer.  We 
bring  with  us  the  Hope  of  the  Wiskotten  family.  Here 
he  is." 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  3 

"  Ah,  no,  Herr  Gustav,  you  are " 

"  This  young  man  is  the  Hope  of  the  Wiskotten  family, 
I  repeat.  He  passed  his  graduation  examinations  today. 
All  the  rest  of  us,  his  elders,  were  glad  enough  to  get  a 
diploma  exempting  us  from  a  year  of  military  service.* 
Now,  what  do  you  say  to  that?  " 

"  Donnerwetter!  " 

"  That's  what  we  all  say.  And  on  your  account,  solely 
on  your  account,  to  bring  you  this  splendid  news  we've 
broken  up  a  family  reunion,  sacrificed  our  beauty  sleep, 
risked  our  necks  on  the  sleety  streets,  and  our  reputations 
in  consequence,  for  some  malicious  neighbors  might  say 
we  had  fallen  because  we  were  tipsy " 

"  Enough — enough — hush !  I'll  draw  some  beer  at 
once." 

"  At  last !     Off  with  your  coats,  youngsters." 

"  Don't  shout  so,  Gustav." 

"  Ach!  August,  we're  at  old  Overam's,  not  at  a  prayer- 
meeting." 

"  I  must  ask  you  to  abstain  from  such  pleasant- 
ries!" 

"  Then  why  are  you  here  at  all?  Wasn't  it  because 
you  like  a  drink  as  well  as  any  of  us?  Well  then,  enjoy 
yourself!  We'll  never  have  another  brother  graduate 
from  the  Gymnasium.* 

The  second  and  fourth  brothers  now  broke  in  with  im- 
patient cries  of  "  Beer !  Beer ! "  Both  were  dressed  with 
the  greatest  of  care,  the  one  in  clothes  of  English  cut  that 
were  set  off  by  mutton-chop  whiskers,  the  other  in  ultra- 
German  garb,  with  the  type  of  mustachios  we  associate 
with  the  Kaiser. 

"  Let's  have  some  beer !    Beer,  for  the  Emperor's  crack 

*  Secondary  school,  graduation  from  which,  usually  at  the  age  of 
eighteen,  admits  to  the  university. 


4.  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

lieutenants ! " — "  English  William  and  Prussian  Fritz. 
Strike  up  with  drum  and  fife." 

"  Listen  to  Gustav  playing  the  democrat !  As  if  he 
weren't  an  officer  in  the  reserve  himself." 

"  True  enough,  but  it's  only  a  side  issue  with  me.  Your 
health,  children !  Even  August — your  health,  August — 
is  an  officer  in  the  reserves,  although  he  would  prefer  to 
be  a  field  chaplain,  if  the  post  weren't  closed  to  him  be- 
cause he's  not  in  orders.  Paul,  too,  has  already  the  right 
to  wear  a  sword,  and  it  goes  without  saying  that  our 
Ewald  will  return  from  his  service  with  epaulets.  Any- 
body can  belong  to  the  reserves,  but  it  isn't  everybody 
that  can  belong  to  the  great  Wiskotten  family,  fellows 
who  may  worry  and  plague  one  another,  but  who  all  pull 
together  against  an  outsider,  and  show  an  unbroken  front 
to  the  world.  Fellows  who  know  the  meaning  and  joy 
of  working,  of  producing.  Hearty,  hard-headed  ribbon 
makers,  Barmen  manufacturers  since  their  birth.  Hurrah ! 
Hoch!  Hoch!  Hoch! " 

Six  throats  shouted  themselves  hoarse  in  response.  In 
the  background  their  host  clapped  his  mighty  hands  be- 
fore he  grasped  the  fresh-filled  mugs.  Gustav  Wiskotten 
had  caught  up  the  lanky  "  bachelor  "  and  tossed  him  to- 
ward the  ceiling  at  every  "  Hoch! "  It  was  a  rare 
scene  of  high  spirits  and  overflowing  vitality.  Carried 
out  of  his  usually  dreamy  self,  Paul  Wiskotten,  the 
poet  of  the  family,  grasped  Gustav  by  the  shoulders 
excitedly 

"  Man,  man,"  he  cried,  "  you  haven't  the  slightest 
inkling  of  what  poetry  means,  and  yet  you're  the  very 
essence  of  it  yourself." 

"  I? — You're  out  of  your  senses!" 

A  sudden  loud  knock  on  the  outer  door  startled  them. 
With  an  impressive  gesture  the  host  imposed  silence.  All 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  5 

eyes  were  turned  in  the  same  direction,  as  they  listened 
expectantly. 

"  Hola ! — after  closing  time." 

"  The  new  night  watchman,"  whispered  the  host. 
"  These  frequent  changes  bring  nothing  but  confusion." 

"Open!" 

Schulte  looked  questioningly  at  Gustav.  He  nodded, 
and  the  door  was  opened. 

"  How  can  I  serve  you  ?     No  drinks  at  this  hour." 

With  helmet  down  over  his  eyes  and  coat  collar  turned 
up,  the  man  entered  the  room — "  That  is  just  what  I 
need  to  assure  myself  about.  Who  are  these  guests? 
You  know  well  enough  that  your  license  is  only  till  mid- 
night," he  said,  drawing  out  his  notebook. 

Gustav  Wiskotten  had  hastily  scribbled  a  few  lines  on 
the  wine  card  before  him;  now  he  arose. 

"What  is  the  meaning  of  this  intrusion?  Don't  you 
know  me?  " 

The  watchman  stood  at  attention;  there  was  a  ring  of 
command  in  the  voice  addressing  him.  "  Yes,  indeed,  Herr 
Wiskotten." 

"  Then  I  ask  you  again,  what  is  the  meaning  of  this 
intrusion?  " 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,  Herr  Wiskotten,  but  Innkeeper 
Schulte  cannot  serve  anything  after  twelve  o'clock  at 
night— — " 

"  It  is  nothing  to  me  what  Abraham  Schulte  may  or 
may  not  do  after  midnight;  that  is,  so  to  speak,  his 
internal  affair.  We  six  here  form  a  private  club,  with 
statutes  exempting  us  from  interference.  No  one  has 
any  right  to  question  us." 

The  watchman  hesitated — "  We  have  no  notice  of  any 
such  club " 

Gravely  shaking  his  head,  Gustav  turned  to  his  brothers 


6  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

who  sat  about  the  table  with  the  gravity  of  offended 
burgomasters.  "  He  does  not  believe  us  !  "  Taking  up 
the  card,  he  read,  "  Barmen,  the  twenty-eighth  of  Febru- 
ary, eighteen  hundred  and  ninety.  Is  that  correct?  Well 
then,  Society  of  the  Wiskotten  Family?  Is  that  also 
correct?  Or  do  you  perchance  see  anyone  here  who  is  not 
a  pure-blooded  Wiskotten?  Further:  Paragraph  one, 
Day  of  meeting,  Thursday.  You  will  not  deny  that 
today  is  Thursday!  Paragraph  two:  Object  of  this  So- 
ciety, the  composition  of  a  song  in  honor  of  the  Wis- 
kotten family.  This  song  we  are  ready  to  give  as  further 
testimony." 

Six  throats  were  cleared  raspingly.  The  watchman 
attempted  to  answer,  but  Schulte  laid  a  warning  finger 
on  his  lips — and  the  six  voices  rang  out: 

"  An  der  Gartentii-a-ur 
Hat  mem  Madchen  mi-a-ir 
Sanft  die  Hand  gedruckt. 
Ach,  wie  ward  mir  da-o-a 
Als  mir  das  gescha-o-ah, 
Als  mem  Madchen  mi-a-ir 
Sanft  die  Hand  gedruckt"  * 

This  was  too  much  for  the  watchman.  He  wiped  his 
forehead  uneasily  and  slipped  quietly  out. 

"  Aha !  "  laughed  Schulte.  The  song  was  finished  and 
the  representative  of  law  and  order  had  vanished. 

"  Ha-ha-ha ! "  echoed  the  six  powerful  voices  in  a  storm 
of  merriment.  Then  followed  a  scene  of  wild,  primitive 
revelry  such  as  might  be  seen  only  in  the  Wupper  valley 
among  its  sturdy,  boisterous  workers. 

*  At  the  garden  gate  my  sweetheart  softly  pressed  my  hand. 
How  it  filled  me  with  joy  to  have  her  softly  press  my  hand. 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  7 

Learning,  culture,  and  acquired  elegance  of  manner 
fell  away.  The  outer  veneer  of  manner  acquired  in  mili- 
tary service  or  travel  was  stripped  off  like  a  Sunday 
coat  no  longer  suitable  in  such  company.  They  were 
not  the  sons  of  a  house  unequaled  in  the  commercial 
world,  but  only  the  sons  of  their  native  soil,  as  had  been 
their  father  before  them  when  he  sat  in  his  blue  blouse 
among  his  fellows  without  thought  of  social  distractions, 
wealth,  or  poverty.  They  had  come  from  loom  and  dye- 
room,  solid,  heavy-set  fellows,  using  the  coarse,  blunt  words 
that  always  carried  their  point.  Honest  and  simple  enough 
they  were,  yet  with  an  inherent  shrewdness  of  business 
instinct  that  was  later  to  develop  great  industries  in  their 
quiet  valley,  equally  unsatiable  for  the  joys  and  whole- 
some labors  of  life. 

At  the  top  of  their  lungs  the  Wiskotten  brothers 
shouted  to  each  other,  striking  the  table  and  laughing 
aloud  at  every  jest,  drinking  their  beer  in  mighty 
draughts,  acting  just  as  if  this  were  indeed  a  private 
clubroom. 

Foremost  in  the  drinking  and  joking  was  the  boisterous 
eldest  brother.  "  August — if  it  does  not  hurt  your  con- 
science— your  health !  " 

"My  conscience?  *  Every  laborer  is  worthy  of  his 
hire ' — is  written  in  St.  Luke." 

"  Fellows,  fellows !  August  has  spoken !  It  is  in  St. 
Luke.  Overam,  where's  the  beer?  August  the  laborer  is 
worthy  of  his  hire." 

"  You  just  wait  till  you  get  home  for  yours." 

"What  do  you  mean?     Out  with  it!" 

"  I  only  mean  that  your  Emily  will  find  you  worthy 
of  your  hire  then." 

"  Yes,  our  Emily.  Hurrah  for  Emily  and  her  curtain 
lectures " 


8  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

,A.t  that  Gustav  frowned  angrily.  He  drained  his  glass 
and  set  it  down  with  a  thump. 

"  Stop  that !  I  think  I  have  the  right  to  a  little  amuse- 
ment. Don't  I  work — Good  Lord — as  much  as  all  the 
rest  of  you  put  together?  If  I  let  myself  have  double 
the  relaxation " 

"  Oh,  come,  don't  get  angry." 

"  There's  no  need  for  you  to  defend  yourself  here ; 
keep  that  for  Emily." 

"  Oh,  rubbish !  Don't  I  know  that  I  married  ten  years 
too  soon?  But  you  have  no  reason  to  complain  of  that. 
You're  all  able  to  have  your  fling  the  better  for  it;  to 
squander  money,  clank  your  sabers,  and  write  your  trashy 
poetry  in  secret  instead  of  devoting  all  your  time  to  mak- 
ing good  ribbons,  braids,  and  cords.  Do  you  see  those 
two  good  upper  valley  Wiskotten  fists?  Now  shut  up, 
all  of  you!" 

"  Oho !     Who  squanders  the  money  ?  " 

"  August,  for  his  senseless  missions  on  all  the  heathen 
rascals  in  China,  Africa,  Kamtschatka." 

"  What  do  you  know  about  a  Christian's  duties  ?  " 

"  Nothing  at  all !  But  my  skin  is  closer  to  me  than 
my  shirt,  as  the  proverb  says.  First  put  your  own 
house  in  order  before  meddling  with  the  affairs  of 
strangers.  If  you  took  all  your  *  mission  '  contributions 
and  used  them  to  root  out  all  the  suffering  and  evil  at 
home,  so  that  nothing  was  left  to  be  desired,  then  it  would 
be  time  to  unfurl  your  banner  among  the  heathen.  Then, 
and  only  then.  When  there  are  houses  afire  here,  why 
run  to  put  out  a  blaze  over  there?  Give  us  a  pat  quota- 
tion, '  bachelor  of  arts.'  " 

"  Husbandry,  Horatio." 

"  That's  good,  husbandry." 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  9 

"  Behold  Gustav  as  moralist !  Gustav  as  demagogue  ! 
Hola !  Rattle  your  sabers  !  " 

"  Listen  to  the  two  fire-eaters !  William  and  Fritz, 
they're  lopsided  from  strutting  about  with  their 
swords." 

"  Enough  of  that !  We  simply  follow  the  fashions,  as 
is  required  of  us  officers.  You  show  it  plainly  enough. 
Don't  they  look  like  regular  officers  on  guard  duty? 
Where  is  your  inherited  pride  in  the  blue  workman's 
blouse?  Don't  we  still  belong  to  the  sturdy  working 
classes?" 

Paul  Wiskotten  had  risen  and  walked  over  to  his 
brother,  his  clear,  bright  eyes  eloquent.  "  Don't  you  see, 
Gustav,  we  each  have  our  own  pet  hobby.  Yours  is  to  find 
intoxication  in  your  cups — I  find  mine  in  the  poets.  Does 
that  hurt  the  factory?  No,  but  it  would  harm  each  of  us 
greatly  should  we  give  up  the  thing  that  is  an  essential 
part  of  our  personality." 

"  Well,  well,"  said  Gustav,  "  perhaps  you're  right." 

In  the  moment  of  silence  that  followed,  their  host's 
voice  was  heard — "  Whoever  is  through  drinking  had 
better  go  home.  You'll  not  get  free  lodgings  here." 

"  Overam,  beer !  " 

"  Overam,  it's  your  own  fault.  If  you'd  been  quicker 
about  keeping  us  supplied  we  would  not  have  had  time  to 
wrangle." 

"  Overam,  a  sardine!     How  much  are  they?  " 

"  A  groschen,  Herr  Wiskotten  !  " 

"What,  for  such  a  little  fish?" 

"  What  do  you  expect — a  boiled  lobster  for  your 
groschen?  " 

"  Overam  und  IsaJc 
Zankten  sich  om  Zmeback 


10  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

Overam  Jconnt  hatter  schlonn, 
Isak,  de  mot  lopen  gonn * 

jeered  the  chorus  at  this  duel  of  words,  rattling  their 

glasses  on  the  table.     Then  the  uproar  broke  loose  in  a 

burst  that  shook  the  windows — there  seemed  no  likelihood 

of  their  making  an  end. — "  Our  Mother !  " 

One  instant,  a  single  movement,  and  all  the  big  fellows 

were  on  their  feet.    Gustav  broke  the  shocked  silence  with 

a  laugh  that  did  not  ring  true. 

"  Stupid !    How  could  our  mother  get  here  in  the  snow  ? 

Why  should  she  come  here  to  Overam's  at  all?  " 

"  The  devil !    That  was  a  scare !    Gustav  is  pale  yet !  " 
"  He'd  rather  have  it  out  with  Emily  any  day." 
"Who  did  it?     Ewald!     If  he  was  trying  to  joke,  he 

certainly  missed  fire." 

"  Well,  were  you  trying  to  make  fun  of  our  mother?  " 

"  No  indeed,  I  assure  you.  I  wanted  to  drink  her 
health.  '  To  our  Mother ! '  The  founder  of  the  Wiskot- 
ten  dynasty.  With  her  begins  our  family  tree." 

"  Overam,  look  sharp  now,  beer !  " 

The  toast  was  drunk  in  respectful  silence,  and  one 
by  one  they  paid  their  scores  with  a  distrait  air.  Then 
one  after  another  of  these  self-sufficient,  careless  men 
drew  out  his  watch,  yawned  in  a  most  striking  fashion, 
and  reached  for  his  overcoat.  Their  high  spirits  had 
flown,  the  same  sobering  influence  had  been  felt  by  them 
all. 

"Are  you  coming,  August?"  said  Gustav  as  he  rose. 
"  Tomorrow  will  be  a  hard  day  in  the  factory,  and  that 
cursed  question  of  a  building  site  must  be  threshed  out 
once  more." 

*  Abraham  and  Isaac  quarreled  about  some  zwieback,  Abraham 
could  hit  harder,  so  Isaac  got  the  worst  of  it. 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  11 

"  Don't  swear  so.     I'm  coming." 

"  Good  night,  Overam.     Is  the  money  right  ?  " 

"  Good  night  to  you  all.  My  compliments  to  your 
honored  mother." 

"  Extend  them  to  her  yourself,  if  you  want  a  clout  on 
the  head." 

On  the  street  they  formed  a  silent,  orderly  procession. 
The  light  snow  had  been  followed  by  a  frost.  The  full 
moon  illuminated  the  high,  uneven  houses  and  cast  a 
ghostly  light  on  the  black  Wupper. 

"  I'm  going  up  on  the  bluff  with  Ewald,"  said  Paul, 
"  it's  such  a  glorious  moonlight  night." 

Gustav  Wiskotten  shrugged  his  shoulders.  "  See  that 
you  don't  come  yawning  to  the  factory  tomorrow.  And 
— don't  disturb  Mother  when  you  come  home."  This  last 
was  spoken  with  a  tenderness  that  was  touching,  coming 
as  it  did  from  the  great,  strong  man. 

"  It's  glorious,  Paul,  glorious,"  said  the  young  student, 
as  they  left  the  others  and  ascended  the  steep  Werlestrasse. 
"  How  can  anyone  go  to  bed  now,  on  such  a  night  and 
in  such  a  mood!  You  were  again  the  only  one  of  them 
who  understood." 

"  Perhaps  it  was  because  I  had  not  so  many  other  re- 
sponsibilities on  my  mind — like  Gustav,  for  instance." 

"  No,  no,  that's  not  it.  You,  too,  yearn  for  things 
beyond  this  business  life  of  Barmen." 

"Beyond?" 

"Their  eternal  jog  trot,  this  fearfully  monotonous, 
dull  routine,  varied  only  by  occasional  drinking  bouts, 
like  the  one  tonight.  It  kills  the  soul." 

"You  see  it  all  with  jaundiced  eyes.  You  must  learn 
to  view  things  in  a  truer  light,  then  you'll  see  Life, 
with  its  manifold  beauties  and  creative  powers." 


12  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

"Do  you  see  it?" 

"  I  do,  and  I  am  a  part  of  it." 

For  a  time  they  walked  along  in  silence.  Soon  they 
reached  the  heights,  where  the  street  gave  way  to  a  path 
leading  through  the  fields  to  a  wood  beyond.  In  its  deli- 
cate white  covering  of  snow  the  path  wound  before  them 
and  vanished  between  the  dark  tree  trunks.  In  the  dis- 
stance  a  dog  howled.  The  "  Villa  Foresta,"  an  inn  by 
day,  seemed  like  some  dreamy  fairy  castle  in  the  magic 
moonlight. 

"  Look  about  you,  boy !  " 

"  What  do  you  mean,  Paul?  " 

"  A  view  worth  coming  here  to  see.  What  do  you 
make  of  it?" 

"  The  Wupper  valley,  Barmen,  nothing  more." 

"  Isn't  that  enough?  We  must  supply  the  one  lack — 
appreciation.  You're  fresh  from  your  studies,  and  still 
know  your  Goethe.  What  does  he  say?  'What  you 
don't  feel,  you'll  never  conquer.'  That  applies  best  of 
all  to  one's  native  place." 

"  Did  you  always  think  thus,  Paul?  " 

"  No,  not  always.  One  ripens  in  the  love  of  home 
slowly.  But  with  a  sincere  love,  the  hardest  task  be- 
comes easy." 

"  But  we  cannot  all  feel  the  same  love.  My  tasks  are 
different." 

"  Everyone  should  have  the  love  of  home  in  some  de- 
gree," said  Paul,  with  a  tender  glance  at  the  sleeping 
valley,  "  the  love  of  home." 

Both  gazed  down  on  the  city,  their  eyes  gradually  be- 
coming accustomed  to  the  uncertain  light,  until  they  could 
discern  the  outlines  of  the  houses,  the  church  towers,  the 
forest  of  tall  factory  chimneys,  and  the  white  streets  that 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  13 

clambered  up  the  surrounding  heights,  to  lose  themselves 
in  the  silences  of  the  watching  forest.  Cupped  like  a 
great  seashell,  the  valley  lay  guarding  its  treasures. 

Paul  Wiskotten  voiced  the  thought;  pride  in  his  home 
town  gave  him  eloquence. 

Ewald  shook  his  head.  "  All  your  poetry  cannot  change 
the  black  Wupper." 

"  The  black  Wupper  is  the  blessing  of  the  valley.  God 
be  thanked  that  it  is  black." 

"  That's  a  strange  point  of  view.  My  idea  of  beauty 
is  to  have  things  clean  and  clear." 

"  If  the  Wupper  were  clean  and  clear  it  would  be  be- 
cause the  people  on  its  banks  were  lazy  and  unhappy. 
Its  black  color  is  a  mantle  of  honor  given  it  by  men.  It 
signifies,  '  Here  work  is  being  done.  Here  dwells  an 
industrious  people.' " 

"  But  I  cannot  see  any  poetry  in  all  this,  and  what  is 
life  without  it?  " 

"  The  poetry  lies  in  the  work  itself.  Life  alone  can 
produce  vital  poetry.  When  the  giant  below  us  awakens, 
rubs  the  sleep  out  of  his  eyes,  and  suddenly  arises  to  sing 
his  morning  song;  when  his  breath  arises  from  all  the 
thousand  chimneys  toward  heaven,  and  the  whole  living 
organism  bestirs  itself  in  the  daily  miracle  of  bringing 
something  into  existence  out  of  nothing,  with  its  myriad 
hands  and  heads — is  not  that  poetry?  Or  when  at  every 
hour  it  sends  forth  its  cheery  cry,  as  on  a  giant  telephone, 
the  hum  of  its  activities  sounding  over  land  and  sea, 
'Hello!  This  is  Barmen-Elberfeld.  Who's  on  the  line 
now  ?  ' — is  that  not  a  heroic  measure  ?  The  song  of  toil ! 
And,  mind  you,  that  is  what  makes  our  Gustav  a  living 
poem." 

"Our  Gustav?" 

"Yes.      Don't    you    understand    yet?      Here    in    the 


14  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

Wupper  valley  our  mightiest  workers  are  our  truest  poets. 

An  artist  must  be  a  creator.    Herr  Gott!    How  our  Gus- 

tav  creates !    How  his  head  teems  with  creative  thoughts 

that  he  grasps  and  molds  into  shape  until  the  thing  is, 

creating  in  its  turn  new  life,  and  food  for  yet  more  new 

life.    Oh,  no,  my  dear  Ewald,  genius  is  not  found  only  on 

Parnassus.     I  can  give  you  my  own  assurance  of  that." 

"  You !    Why  have  you  not  become  a  poet  ?  " 

"  A  short  time  ago  you  heard  Gustav  pass  j  udgment  on 

my  verses " 

"  He's  not  a  competent  critic.  He  has  no  conception  of 
the  things  that  stir  our  souls.  He  can  understand  noth- 
ing but  his  eternal  business  affairs — it's  always  business 
with  him.  He  does  not  recognize  the  individual." 

"  There  are  more  than  enough  isolated  individuals 
wandering  about  the  world — like  so  much  quicksilver.  He 
has  something  weightier  on  his  mind." 

"  I  know,  I  know,  the  all-important  factory." 
"  No,  the  individuality  of  the  '  family.'  " 
"  I  don't  understand.     That's  a  paradox." 
"  Nowadays    everyone    wants    to    be    a    '  personality.' 
That  is  sheer  folly,  for  eventually  it  would  break  every 
tie  and  drive  us  into  chaos,  anarchy.    I  tell  you,  the  '  per- 
sonality '  of  the  future  will  be  the  '  personality  of  the 
family.'    Only  complete  unity  of  purpose  can  make  a  race 
strong  and  enduring,  can  produce  genius.     We  cannot 
all    of    us    be    extraordinary    characters.     But    if    each 
member     of    the     family     adds     his    little    portion     of 
genius  to  the  common  fund,  then  a  worthy  whole  may  be 
formed." 

"  And  can  you  yourself  submit  to  this  dreary  wis- 
dom? You  with  your  gifted  soul?" 

"  Gustav  has  also  a  gifted  soul,  perhaps  the  greatest 
among  us.  But  it  is  impossible  for  him  to  obey  its  im- 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  15 

pulses  because  all  his  powers  are  given  to  the  factory  and 
our  common  welfare.  Without  a  protest,  he  has  offered 
up  his  private  wishes  to  that  end.  Is  not  that  greatness?  " 

"  But  his  unhappy  home  life — is  that  to  be  borne  for  the 
sake  of  his  relatives?  Is  it  just  to  him?  " 

"Hush,  Ewald,  you  must  not  speak  of  that.  When 
he  married  at  scarce  twenty,  it  was  because  the  business 
that  was  just  beginning  to  grow  demanded  a  firmer 
foundation.  Our  mother  saw  that  and  so  did  Gustav. 
And  if  his  home  life  has  been  unhappy,  it  is  not  for  us 
to  judge  it.  We  should  rather  try  to  make  it  easier 
for  him  in  other  ways,  since  just  this  sacrifice  of  his  has 
made  it  easier  for  all  of  us." 

The  youngest  Wiskotten  stood  sullenly  before  him.  "  I 
did  not  ask  it  of  him,"  burst  from  his  lips. 

"  Ewald ! " 

"  Well,  I  don't  thank  him  for  his  sacrifice  if  I  am  to 
suffer  in  the  end  for  it.  I  don't  give  him  any  thanks  if 
he  asks  my  own  free  will  in  exchange." 

"  Yours  ?  You  don't  enter  into  the  question.  You're  to 
study  theology." 

"  But  I  won't  do  it." 

"You— won't?" 

"  No,  I  will  not.  Even  if  Gustav  has  a  fit  over  it. 
Why  he  doesn't  even  go  to  church." 

"  He  respects  the  cherished  wishes  of  our  mother.  He 
would  die  to  please  her." 

"  Die !  I  could  do  that.  But  not  live  such  a  life.  I 
cannot  consent  to  be  buried  alive,"  he  fairly  shrieked. 
His  eyes  blazed  and  he  trembled  with  excitement. 

"Ewald!" 

With  a  despairing  gesture  the  youngster  threw  him- 
self on  his  brother's  neck.  "  I  want  to  be  an  artist.  The 
whole  family  will  be  against  me.  They'll  treat  me  as  if 


16  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

I  were  crazy  or  wanted  to  become  a  vagabond.  Let  them. 
What  does  this  Wupper  valley  know  of  art?  Paul,  you 
understand,  you  have  some  sympathy.  Will  you  stand 
by  me  when  the  storm  breaks  out  at  home?  " 

"  Boy,"  said  Paul,  patting  the  bowed  head,  "  stupid, 
silly  boy." 

"You  won't,  then?" 

"  Mother  will  never  consent.  Anything  else,  but  not 
an  artist." 

"Mother  doesn't  need  to  become  one,  it  is  7,  7,  who 
must." 

"Well,  then,  have  you  the  talent?  I  mean  enough  to 
sustain  you  against  the  whole  family." 

Ewald  Wiskotten  proudly  raised  his  head.  "  That  will 
develop." 

"  Then  if  you're  not  even  sure " 

"  Now  you're  playing  the  Philistine  too.  Who  can 
know  what  one  may  become,  what  latent  talent  one  pos- 
sesses ?  Courage  and  enthusiasm  make  the  seed  germinate. 
I  assuredly  have  these." 

Paul  had  not  the  heart  to  discourage  this  eager,  hot- 
cheeked  lad.  "  Don't  say  anything  yet  at  home.  Wait," 
he  said,  after  a  moment's  reflection.  "  We'll  take  a  trip 
to  Elberfeld  next  Sunday  and  attend  the  meeting  of  the 
Society  of  Literature  and  Art  there.  I'm  a  member  and 
can  take  you.  Look  about  you,  listen,  and  see  what 
there  is  to  see.  Perhaps  it  will  help." 

"  Paul,  will  the  artist  Weert  be  there?  " 

"  Certainly.  Also  the  poet  Korten.  Now,  do  be  pru- 
dent at  home." 

"Paul!    Paul!" 

"  Have  a  little  patience,  Sunday'll  be  here  soon." 

"  Just  one  more  question,  Paul,  and  you  must  answer 
me.  I  cannot  understand  you,  not  in  the  least.  In  the 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  17 

company  of  all  these  artists  and  poets,  have  you  never 
felt  the  desire  to  go  where  they  have  been,  to  get  away 
from  this  black  Wupper,  to  see  the  clear,  poetic  Rhine, 
the  world?" 

"  The  men  I  admire  most  live  here  by  the  very  Wupper 
you  revile." 

"  Oh,  they're  all  old !  They  have  lost  their  fire,  their 
initiative.  They  are  dotards  mumbling  by  a  warm  fire 
and  putting  their  talents  to  household  uses.  They're 
done  for,  but  you,  you  are  young." 

"  They,  too,  were  once  young.  From  the  dreams  of 
youth  to  membership  in  a  provincial  Society  of  Litera- 
ture and  Art  is  a  great  descent.  It  must  have  come  after 
many  a  lost  illusion,  many  a  defeat,  but  meanwhile  there 
must  have  been  a  readjustment  of  viewpoints  until  Reality 
was  attained  and  they  found  their  compensations  in  it. 
You  see,  youngster,  we  cannot  all  be  Goethes ;  there  must 
be  some  to  read  Goethe." 

"And  are  you  one  of  these?"  Ewald  rose  and 
stretched  his  long  limbs. 

"  Yes,  I  am  one  of  these.  I  do  what  I  can  to  enrich 
my  life  with  my  gifts  and  regard  the  result  serenely.  I 
could  find  no  wider  scope  for  the  talents  I  possess,  and  if 
I  tried,  I  would  lose  my  own  pleasure  without  adding  to 
that  of  others.  One  must  take  a  square  look  at  himself 
and  see  his  own  limitations,  then  he  can  be  thankful  for 
what  he  has.  Now,  come  home  to  bed." 

In  the  valley  the  great  giant,  Toil,  slept  in  his  mantle 
of  silver  moonlight,  that  transformed  him  into  a  smiling 
god.  Not  a  being  of  mythology  for  the  learned  few,  but 
a  beneficent  deity,  who  dispensed  bread  and  occupation  to 
the  busy  many. 

Paul  Wiskotten  beckoned  to  him.  "How  beautiful 
that  is ! " 


18  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

Ewald  made  a  wry  face.  "  The  air  is  too  full  of  smoke 
and  soot  for  me.  Come  along." 

So  they  left  the  hillside  with  the  question  still  in  abey- 
ance. 


Gustav  Wiskotten  had  long  since  reached  home.  After 
parting  from  his  brothers  at  his  own  door,  he  had  not 
entered  at  once,  but  continued  down  the  street  to  the 
factory  to  set  his  watch  by  the  large  clock  there.  Then 
he  returned  and  entered  his  house  quietly,  and  cautiously 
opened  the  door  of  the  nursery.  By  the  light  of  the 
night  lamp  he  looked  down  on  his  seven-year-old  boy  and 
his  five-year-old  girl.  It  flashed  through  his  mind  that 
he  was  only  thirty-two.  But  his  eyes  beamed  as  he  bent 
down  to  kiss  the  unconscious  little  mouths.  "  Here  is  my 
own  youth  given  back  to  me,"  he  thought. 

"Papa!    Papa!" 

"  Be  quiet.     Sleep  well.     Good  night." 

"Gustav!" 

"  I'm  coming,"  he  said,  as  he  took  up  the  light  and 
entered  the  adjoining  room. 

"  You  must  not  disturb  the  children.  How  late  you 
are !  If  you  take  no  thought  of  me,  you  should  at  least 
feel  some  shame  before  the  children." 

"  Now  don't  be  angry,  Emily.  Ewald  has  passed  his 
examinations  brilliantly,  and  of  course  we  celebrated." 

"  You're  never  at  a  loss  for  an  excuse." 

"  Come,  come.  Give  me  a  kiss.  A  little  recreation  is 
good  for  me  after  all  the  day's  worries." 

"  Don't  I  have  worries  too?  " 

"You?  You're  the  best  of  housewives.  Now  come, 
give  me  a  kiss." 

"  Go  away.    You  smell  of  beer." 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  19 

"Yes,"  laughed  Gustav,  dryly.  "Abraham  doesn't 
serve  violet  water  to  his  customers." 

"  In  that  laboring-man's  drinking  saloon !     Pah !  " 

"  Listen,  Emily." 

"  I  won't  listen.  No,  I  won't.  To  be  drinking  in  such 
a  place  when  your  wife  needs  sleep  !  " 

"  Then  I'll  not  keep  you  awake  any  longer.  Good 
night."  He  took  the  candle  over  to  his  side  of  the  room. 

At  that  Emily  Wiskotten  sat  bolt  upright  in  bed.  Her 
thick,  black  hair  was  hidden  by  an  ugly  nightcap  and 
her  pretty  face  distorted  with  anger. 

"  But  I  have  something  to  say  to  you.  I  am  not  satis- 
fied." 

"  Then  take  off  your  nightcap,  Emily ;  if  you're  not 
going  to  sleep,  you  don't  need  it  and  it's  not  becoming." 

"Don't  you  dare  jeer  at  me!  Some  day  you'll  be 
sorry.  I  brought  you  my  youth,  my  dot,  and  my  father's 
money  too.  But  you !  I  have  all  the  care  of  the  house- 
hold and  of  the  children,  and  I  have  to  go  and  visit  your 
mother  and  let  myself  be  criticized  by  her,  and  she  says 
horrid  things  to  me  because  I  don't  go  to  church  every 
Sunday.  Ach,  Gott!  and  even  the  pastor,  who  was  there 
today,  said " 

Gustav  blew  out  the  light. 

"  Gustav !  "     She  heard  him  get  out  of  his  bed. 

"Gustav!"     No  answer. 

"  Gustav,  the  pastor " 

"  Hush,  keep  quiet  a  minute.     I'm  saying  my  prayers." 

She  bit  her  lips  and  listened,  trembling  with  anger. 
Then  she  fell  back  on  her  pillow  with  a  heavy  sigh.  Gus- 
tav was  asleep,  and  in  his  sleep  he  dreamed  of  the  coming 
day  that  would  claim  all  of  his  energies — all  he  had  to 
give. 


CHAPTER  II 

"  GOOD  day,  Kolsch." 

"  Good  day,  Herr  Wiskotten." 

The  gray-headed  foreman  raised  his  silk  skullcap  in 
answer  to  Gustav's  salute  and  greeting. 

"  My  brother,  William,  leaves  for  England  the  begin- 
ning of  next  week.  Be  sure  to  have  the  sample  cards  for 
London  ready  to  be  sent  to  the  office  today." 

"  They  are  already  at  the  binder's,  Herr  Wiskotten ;  by 
ten  o'clock  they  should  be  back." 

"  You  seem  to  have  the  affairs  of  the  business  on  your 
mind  as  much  as  I.  What's  happened  today?  " 

"  The  new  machine  is  all  set  up.  It's  a  pleasure  to  see, 
it  work;  as  for  hearing  it,  it's  almost  noiseless." 

"  Come  along,"  cried  Gustav,  his  eyes  beaming.  They 
crossed  the  courtyard  of  the  factory  and  entered  the  ma- 
chine house. 

"  Good  morning,  Armbrust.  You  look  proud  as  a  pea- 
cock." 

The  chief  mechanician,  in  blue  drill  overalls  and  thick 
felt  slippers,  pulled  at  his  cap,  grinned,  and  stepped 
aside.  Through  the  large  open  skylight  the  morning  sun 
shone  brightly  on  the  immaculate  tiled  pavement,  gleam- 
ing brass  and  nickel  work,  and  spotless  machinery.  Alto- 
gether the  room  looked  more  like  the  machinery  exhibit 
of  some  exposition  than  a  place  where  actual  work  was 
done  every  day.  There  was  no  trace  of  mud  on  the  tiles, 
no  finger-mark  on  the  shiny  metal  work,  not  even  a 
stray  mote  in  the  slant  sunbeams.  The  powerful  trans- 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  21 

mission  belts  traveled  with  such  smooth  rapidity  that  it 
almost  seemed  as  though  they  hung  motionless.  Gustav 
circled  the  new  Colossus,  slowly,  with  an  eye  that  took 
in  every  screw  and  bolt. 

"  Kolsch,  it  cost  a  fortune !  " 

"  But  it  will  earn  one  for  us." 

"  That's  what  I  think.  That's  why  I  bought  it.  Father 
and  August  almost  went  into  fits.  They  thought  the  150 
H.P.  was  a  plenty.  Now  see  what  a  dwarf  it  is."  He 
slapped  the  silent  little  machine  as  one  pets  a  favorite 
horse. 

"  It's  a  good  worker,  too,  Herr  Wiskotten.  Does  its 
work  like  lightning.  But  of  course  it  cannot  compete 
with  the  450  H.P.  of  the  new  one." 

"  Well,  we'll  not  compare  them.  We'll  simply  say  to- 
gether they  make — 600  H.P." 

The  words  rang  full  and  sonorous — like  a  bugle  call 
sounding  the  "  advance." 

The  old  foreman  looked  at  his  young  master  with  a 
glow  of  pleasure,  adding,  "  It  must  be  our  care  not  to  let 
them  rust."  Gustav's  eyes  answered  the  challenge.  "  So 
long  as  my  word  has  any  weight,  no  danger  of  that.  I'll 
see  to  it  that  both  are  kept  busy.  Now  we  can  begin  manu- 
facturing part  silk  ribbons.  They  sell  well.  Then  we're 
about  to  enlarge  the  dye  works.  We  must  make  up  a 
thing  from  the  absolutely  raw  material  to  the  finished 
product,  as  the  big  concerns  do.  Then  our  profits  will  be 
correspondingly  large." 

"  When  do  you  commence  with  the  new  dye  works  ?  " 

"  As  soon  as  I  have  the  ground.  The  railroad  directors 
will  not  sell  to  me.  They're  a  lot  of  stubborn  mules. 
Couldn't  they  dump  their  old  ashes  anywhere? "  He 
turned  to  go.  "  Perhaps  there  will  be  some  news  today." 
Again  he  glanced  lovingly  at  the  new  machine.  At  the 


22  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

door  he  tested  the  oil  pump.  "  Armbrust,  if  you  let  the 
machine  run  dry  may  the  devil  run  away  with  you !  " 

"  He's  welcome  to,  Herr  Wiskotten." 

Outside  the  stoker  sweated  over  the  furnaces.  His 
shovel  bit  great  pieces  out  of  the  mountain  of  coal  before 
him,  and  with  a  sweep  of  the  arm  he  fed  the  Moloch-man 
of  his  furnace.  His  bright  red  shirt  was  open  at  the 
throat,  and  chest,  face,  and  hands  were  streaked  with 
sweat  and  coal  dust,  making  him  a  unique  "  study  in 
black  and  white."  When  he  saw  the  owner  coming  he 
stopped  work  for  a  moment,  leaned  on  his  shovel,  and 
wiped  his  face  with  the  back  of  one  grimy  hand. 

"  Well,  Christian,  how  goes  it  ?  The  new  monster 
gobbles  its  food,  nicht?  " 

"  Ach,  Herr,  that  beast  devours,  yes,  I  can  tell  you, 
more  than  my  old  woman  and  our  seven  youngsters." 

"  But  we  can  trust  you  to  feed  them  all  full,  the  ma- 
chine and  the  seven  nestlings  too." 

"I'll  do  my  best,  Herr  Wiskotten." 

"  From  this  week  on  you're  to  have  a  dollar  raise." 

"  Oh,  thunder — I  mean,  thank  you,  Herr  Wiskotten." 

"  How  long  has  he  been  in  the  factory,  Kolsch?  "  said 
Gustav  Wiskotten,  as  they  walked  toward  the  main  build- 
ing. 

"  As  long  as  Armbrust  and  I,  and  I  think  a  little  longer. 
It  will  be  twenty-five  years  this  spring;  your  father 
came  into  the  business  then  too." 

Gustav  grasped  him  by  the  hand  with  a  hearty  word 
of  adieu  and  they  parted.  The  young  owner  went 
through  the  busy  workrooms  between  the  close  rows  of 
rattling,  thumping  looms.  The  noise  in  the  hall  was 
deafening,  the  transmission  belts  creaked  and  groaned, 
the  looms  kept  up  a  constant  tattoo  with  their  wooden 
arms,  all  the  various  other  noises  joining  with  these  in  a 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  23 

vast  wild  dissonance.  The  spools  whirled,  the  shuttles 
zigzagged,  dancing  from  right  to  left,  left  to  right,  as  if 
solving  the  secret  of  perpetual  motion,  while  each  loom 
spewed  forth  the  finished  ribbons  in  writhing,  snaky  coils. 
Workmen  guided  the  handles,  young  girls  kept  feeding 
fresh  spools  of  thread.  The  whole  room  was  a  beehive  of 
active  industry. 

Gustav's  eyes  appraised  the  product  of  each  loom. 
None  of  the  workers  looked  up;  a  snapped  or  tangled 
thread  would  be  the  price  of  an  instant's  inattention.  A 
girl  ran  past  him  and  dropped  a  spool ;  as  she  bent  to  pick 
it  up  he  gave  her  a  playful  push  that  made  her  shoot 
forward.  She  blushed  and  laughed,  but  no  one  noticed 
the  incident;  it  was  lost  amid  the  whir  of  the  looms.  A 
sudden  long  whistle  changed  all  this,  the  machinery  slowed 
down,  then  stopped.  The  sudden  stop  was  for  the  morn- 
ing coffee-hour,  at  eight  o'clock. 

Mechanically  Gustav  drew  out  his  watch.  Then  he 
went  up  to  his  private  office  by  a  side  stair.  The  mail 
was  due  by  now.  On  the  way  up  he  passed  the  reel  room. 
Heaps  of  raw  silk,  cotton  thread,  and  yarn  covered  the 
floor  in  skeins.  The  winders — thirty  young  girls  and  a 
few  married  women — were  gathered  about  the  steaming 
coffee-cups.  In  their  midst  sat  an  old  lady  of  sixty  or 
thereabouts,  big-boned,  and  with  an  energetic  cast  of  fea- 
tures. Upon  her  lap  lay  the  silk  skein  she  had  been  wind- 
ing when  the  breakfast  signal  had  sounded.  Now  a 
heavy  book  lay  upon  it.  The  old  lady  was  reading  aloud, 
peering  through  her  gold-bowed  spectacles  and  mouthing 
each  syllable.  It  was  a  Bible. 

"  And  Jesus  went  about  in  all  the  cities  and  villages, 
teaching  in  their  synagogues,  and  preaching  the  gospel 
of  the  kingdom,  and  healing  every  sickness  and  every  dis- 
ease among  the  people.  Then  he  said  unto  his  disciples : 


24  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

the  harvest  is  truly  plenteous  but  the  laborers  are  few. 
Pray  ye  therefore  the  Lord  of  the  harvest  that  he  will 
send  forth  laborers  into  his  harvest." 

All  listened  respectfully,  for  they  knew  that  this  old 
lady  quietly  reading  the  Bible  now  had  a  swift  and  heavy 
hand. 

"  Good  morning,  Mother,"  said  Gustav.  She  nodded 
to  him  without  looking  up.  He  passed  on,  entered  the 
office  noisily,  crying,  "Mail  here?"  as  he  threw  his  cap 
on  the  table. 

"  You  might  at  least  say  *  Good  morning.'  " 

"  Don't  be  so  punctilious,  August.  I've  been  on  the 
go  since  seven  o'clock,  and  it's  hard  to  remember  morning 
greetings  this  late." 

"  You'd  like  to  have  us  all  on  our  stools  an  hour  before 
post  time,  I  suppose !  " 

"  Rather  that  than  to  see  Mother  about  so  early.  She 
should  take  better  care  of  herself.  She's  not  exactly 
young  any  more." 

"  Mother's  all  right.  Her  supervision  is  good  for  the 
girls,  and  the  morning  Gospel,  too." 

"  Their  coffee-hour  should  be  given  up  to  recreation. 
She  ought  to  give  them  extra  time  from  their  work  to 
listen  to  her  Gospel  reading.  Everything  in  its  proper 
time." 

"  Go  ahead  and  tell  her  what  you  think." 

"  I  see  myself  doing  it !  Well,  anything  good  in  the 
mail?" 

"  The  short-time  orders  are  piling  up.  If  only  we've 
not  undertaken  them  too  soon." 

**  Ach,  nonsense.  We'll  deliver  all  that  is  ordered." 
He  sat  down,  bent  over  the  letters  and  read  them  carefully. 
"  Good — very  good — What  ?  Lower  our  prices  ?  Can't  be 
done!  Ach,  that  kind  of  mail  means  something.  That 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  25 

means  work  after  hours.  Donnerwetter!  "  He  struck  the 
last  letter  with  his  clenched  fist. 

August  raised  his  smug  face  and  cast  a  hasty  glance 
toward  the  door  to  the  main  offices.  "  Gustav,"  he  said, 
reproachfully. 

"Hey!  What's  the  matter  with  you?  Hymns  are  all 
right  in  church,  but  are  no  good  in  business.  What  do 
you  say  to  this  railroad  affair?  They  absolutely  refuse 
to  sell.  They'll  starve  us  out,  strangle  us.  Oho — we'll 
see  about  that !  " 

"Didn't  I  warn  you,  Gustav?  Why  didn't  you  first 
get  the  land,  then  build  the  additions,  then  have  the  new 
machines  installed,  and  when  all  that  was  done  go  out 
and  get  the  foreign  orders." 

"  Confound  such  a  rigamarole.  Were  we  to  let  all  these 
good  business  opportunities  slip  by?  Why,  you  yourself 
are  a  good  enough  business  man,  slyer  than  Moses  and  the 
Prophets." 

"My  business  ability  has  nothing,  whatever  to  do  with 
the  Bible." 

"  No,  your  worst  enemy  could  not  claim  that !  Now 
give  me  your  advice  as  a  business  man  pure  and  simple." 

"  We  must  find  something,  some  means  to  annoy  those 
directors,  and  keep  at  it  till  they  cry  mercy." 

"  Annoy  them !  "  Gustav  Wiskotten  stood  up  and  gave 
a  deep-chested  laugh.  "  August,  the  sin  be  upon  your 
conscience.  I'm  poor  Adam  and  you're  the  serpent.  But 
now  I'm  started  you  must  give  me  carte  blanche." 

"  Very  well,  trade  and  business  are  all  more  or  less 
sinful.  But  business  is  business.  It  has  its  own  code  of 
morals." 

"Bravo!  You  seem  to  have  no  hang-over  from  last 
night.  Where  are  the  others?" 

"  William  has  gone  to  the  bookbinder's  for  his  sample 


26  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

cards,  Paul  is  in  the  main  office*  and  Fritz  is  in  his  labora- 
tory above  the  dye  works." 

"  Did  father  sleep  well?" 

"  Yes.    Ewald  is  with  him  now." 

"  Good-by,  then,  till  later."  He  stuck  his  hat  on  jaunt- 
ily and  went  out.  Busy  with  his  thoughts,  he  passed  by 
the  dye  works  to  the  Wupper  that  ran  along  the  edge  of 
the  factory  land.  The  steam  pouring  from  the  vent  pipes 
of  the  dye  works  changed  to  hissing,  greasy  foam  as  it 
struck  the  water ;  streams  of  bubbling  red,  blue,  and  black 
waste  water  from  the  dye  vats  completed  the  work  of  the 
steam,  and  the  poor  Wupper  could  not  boast  a  single  drop 
of  clean,  clear  water  after  it  had  passed  this  busy  manu- 
facturing town.  On  the  low-lying  meadows  across  the 
river  the  Barmen  bleachers  plied  their  trade,  while  on 
this  side,  on  the  lowlands  adjoining  the  Wiskotten  fac- 
tory, the  railroad  dumped  its  ashes. 

Gustav  Wiskotten  stood  for  a  long  time  on  the  low  river 
bank  looking  at  the  coveted  land.  If  he  could  not  obtain 
it,  all  his  dreams  of  expansion  must  come  to  a  standstill. 
Who  could  have  foreseen  it?  His  father  had  started  the 
business  in  a  very  small  way  twenty-five  years  ago,  and 
it  had  grown  very  slowly  on  its  own  profits,  until  Gustav 
Wiskotten  had  made  his  early  marriage  with  Emily 
Scharwachter.  Then  he  had  insisted  on  using  her  dowry 
for  the  purchase  of  more  land  and  the  erection  of  new 
buildings.  He  could  still  see  the  shocked  faces  of  his 
father  and  hers.  "  Boy,  boy,"  his  own  father  had  said, 
shaking  his  head  gravely,  "You  won't  build  it  all  up  in 
your  lifetime.  Our  bones  shall  be  ready  to  use  to  knock 
pears  off  the  trees  before  that  happens  !  " 

And  now  ?  A  cold,  fierce  pride  filled  the  pondering  man, 
and  he  held  his  head  higher.  Had  he  not  already  dis- 
proved that  prophecy?  Why  stop  there,  why  recognize 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  27 

any  limitations  to  his  progress?  He  was  not  born  to  be 
so  easily  satisfied.  Now  his  glance  fell  on  the  disputed 
land  with  a  feeling  of  ownership.  It  should  be  his.  Then 
he  opened  the  door  of  the  dye  works.  For  a  moment  he 
could  see  nothing  in  the  dense  warm  fog  that  filled  the 
room.  Then  he  began  to  distinguish  the  workers  in  their 
black  muslin  aprons  hustling  about  among  the  vats,  where 
the  dyes  simmered.  The  shrill  whine  of  escaping  steam 
and  the  clapping  of  the  dye  paddles  on  the  yarn  drowned 
all  human  sounds. 

"  Hello !  "  he  cried.    "  Is  Kolsch  here  ?  " 

"  Haven't  seen  him." 

"  And  my  brother  Fritz?  " 

"  Upstairs." 

Gustav  made  his  way  between  the  pools  of  steamy  dye 
water  on  the  floor.  A  clumsily  directed  paddle  struck  him 
sharply. 

"  Hoopla !  "  cried  the  worker. 

"  Butter-fingers !  "  cried  Gustav,  and  passed  on. 

He  found  Fritz  in  the  laboratory  above.  His  aspiring 
mustachios  were  visible  over  the  body  of  a  smoked  herring 
that  he  was  devouring  with  gusto  as  he  held  it  in  his 
fingers  by  head  and  tail.  Beside  him  stood  a  half-emptied 
beer  glass. 

"  Say,  where  do  you  think  you  are?  This  is  no  short- 
order  house." 

"  Let  me  alone.  A  man  with  a  hang-over  doesn't  want 
to  be  disturbed  early  in  the  morning." 

"  True  enough.  And  I  know  that  herring  are  good  for 
one  after  a  night  of  it.  But  do  your  doctoring  after 
hours." 

"  That's  not  worth  answering." 

"  Take  care,  youngster !  " 

Fritz  sprang  to  his  feet.     "  What's  the  matter  with 


28  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

you?  I'm  as  much  master  here  as  you  are  elsewhere  in 
the  factory." 

"  Is  that  so  ?  Then  prove  it  to  your  people.  When 
one  of  them  comes  here  with  a  hang-over  we  send  him 
home.  To  send  for  herring,  at  nine  o'clock  in  the  morn- 
ing !  All  the  dyers  must  be  laughing  at  you !  " 

"  It's  all  the  same  to  me !  " 

"  But  not  to  me.  A  master  must  show  no  weakness 
before  his  people.  If  your  head  is  splitting  because  of 
last  night,  you  must  hide  it.  'Always  the  strongest,' 
should  be  your  watchword." 

Fritz  finished  his  beer  in  sulky  silence. 

"  Have  you  seen  Kolsch,  Fritz?  " 

"No.    What  do  you  want  with  him?" 

"  I  must  see  him.  The  railroad  will  not  sell,  and  our 
dye  rooms  are  so  crowded  now  I  can't  walk  through  them 
without  getting  a  crack  in  the  ribs." 

"  Damn  it  all !  Then  my  work  will  be  held  up  too.  I 
must  have  more  room.  Won't  sell?  Oho !  Gustav,  I  think 
you  will  teach  them  to  dance  to  a  different  tune ! " 

"  I  think  so  myself.  Go  on  with  your  experimental 
work  so  that  you'll  have  everything  ready  when  we  need 
it." 

"  You  may  be  sure  I  will.     Good-by,  Gustav." 

Gustav  left  the  dye  works  encouraged.  "  There's  good 
stuff  in  that  brother  of  mine,"  he  thought,  "  but  he  needs 
a  tight  rein  for  his  frivolities." 

He  finally  came  upon  the  foreman  on  the  river  bank 
near  the  wash  houses.  He  too  was  gazing  at  the  bone  of 
contention. 

"Looking  does  no  good,  Herr  Wiskotten.  We  must 
have  it.  Else  we'll  have  to  sell  the  new  450  H.P.  for 
scrap  iron." 

"Kolsch,"  said  Gustav,  "I've  hunted  for  you  like  a 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  29 

needle  in  a  haystack.  I  know  that  you  love  the  factory 
and  you  love  our  family.  Am  I  not  right?  "  he  said,  lay- 
ing his  hand  affectionately  on  the  old  man's  arm. 

*'  I  belong  in  the  inventory,  Herr  Wiskotten." 

"Yes,  you  do.  When  I  was  still  a  little  fellow  and 
devoured  story  books,  my  favorite  hero  was  Hagen,  in  the 
Nibelungenlied.  Well,  since  then  I  dare  say  you've  read 
more  than  I.  But  I  always  shall  identify  you  with  Hagen, 
the  most  faithful  subject  of  his  king,  loyal  to  the  last.  I 
cannot  imagine  our  family  without  you." 

The  trusty  old  fellow's  eyes  shone.  "  Herr  Wiskotten, 
we  understand  one  another.  Service  for  service.  What 
do  you  want  now?  " 

"  Kolsch,  you  have  a  garden  in  the  suburbs  that  abuts 
on  the  railroad  shunting  yard." 

"  Herr  Wiskotten,  that  would  not  do  for  us  at  all.  It 
is  too  far  away  and  would  increase  our  expenses." 

"  For  us  ?  Certainly.  I  was  not  thinking  of  that.  But 
the  city  wants  it,  has  already  asked  you  to  name  a  price, 
I  believe." 

"  Yes,  indeed,  and  I  told  them  I  would  sell  for  a  decent 
figure." 

"  Do  you  know  why  the  city  wants  it?  " 

The  foreman  shook  his  head.  "  It's  all  the  same  to  me, 
if  they  pay  my  price." 

"  The  city  wants  to  make  a  profitable  deal  with  the 
railway  directors.  Or  perhaps  it's  the  railway  that's 
really  making  you  the  offer  now.  Well,  do  you  see?  "  he 
cried,  triumphantly. 

"  No,  and  I  can't  change  the  thing." 

"  Kolsch,  you  can,  you  must  do  me  a  great  service.  You 
must  deed  over  your  garden  to  me  at  once.  I  cannot 
promise  to  pay  you  as  much  as  the  city  would,  and  I 
may  even  have  to  return  it  to  you  after  you've  lost  the 


30  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

chance  to  sell  to  someone  else.  It's  a  shabby  thing  to  ask 
you  to  accept  such  an  offer,  indeed  I  would  be  ashamed 
to  come  to  anyone  but  you  with  such  a  request.  I  would 
not  do  it  to  save  myself  from  ruin,  but  the  factory — 
Kolsch,  it's  like  a  little  child  that  one  has  brought  into 
the  world  and  for  which  one  must  care  so  that  it  may  grow 
into  sturdy  manhood — even  though  it  cost  our  last  drop  of 
blood.  The  factory,  Kolsch,"  he  said,  with  a  deep  sigh. 

"  Herr  Wiskotten,"  said  the  foreman,  and  his  eyes 
sought  the  dusky  current  of  the  Wupper,  "  I  understand 
you  perfectly  and  your  plans  as  well.  You  wish  to  have 
something  that  will  make  the  railroad  directors  glad  to 
listen  to  you.  But  at  any  rate  the  garden  is  yours  to 
command.  There's  no  danger  of  my  leaving  the  factory 
in  the  lurch." 

"  But  you  stand  a  chance  of  having  a  good  profit." 
"  The  Wiskottens  have  never  yet  let  me  go  hungry  and 
I've  been  with  them  twenty-five  years.  Far  from  that, 
they  give  me  twice  what  I  need  for  Anna  and  myself  now. 
Enough,  too,  so  that  we  can  spare  some  for  our  Ernest 
in  Diisseldorf." 

"  How  is  Ernest  getting  on  at  the  Academy?  Will  he 
soon  be  a  great  painter?  " 

"  He  can  do  more  than  he  does " 

"  Better  that  than  the  reverse,  Herr  Kolsch." 
"  I  console  myself  with  that  thought.     Shall  I  sign  the 
deed  for  you  now?  " 

"  Yes,"  said  Gustav — the  moment  for  words  and  ex- 
planations was  past,  master  and  man  understood  one  an- 
other. They  entered  the  foreman's  office  and  Kolsch 
signed  over  the  garden  plot,  adjoining  the  shunting  tracks 
of  the  railroad,  to  his  young  master.  Half  an  hour  later 
Gustav  Wiskotten  was  on  his  way  to  the  general  offices 
of  the  railway  in  Elberfeld. 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  31 

The  president  was  busy,  so  Wiskotten  sent  in  his  card 
to  the  general  manager,  who  had  corresponded  with  him 
about  the  land,  and  was  admitted  at  once. 

"  I  am  Wiskotten,  the  Barmen  manufacturer." 

The  general  manager  acknowledged  the  introduction. 
"  We  have,  unfortunately,  been  obliged  to  send  you  an 
unfavorable  answer,  Herr  Wiskotten.  We  are  only  too 
glad  to  keep  the  few  bits  of  land  now  in  our  possession 
for  our  own  use." 

"  But  this  waste  land  adjoining  our  factory  is  surely 
of  no  real  importance  to  you.  You  could  dump  your 
ashes  equally  well  on  any  other  low  ground  along  your 
line." 

"  It  is  for  us,  not  you,  to  decide  what  we  may  or  may 
not  do,  Herr  Wiskotten.  There  are  details  to  be  consid- 
ered of  which  you  are  altogether  ignorant." 

"  My  dear  sir,  can  we  not  continue  this  conversation  in 
a  more  amicable  tone?  " 

"  Our  business  offices  are  not  the  place  for  mere  pleas- 
ant conversation." 

"With  all  due  deference  I  would  like  to  draw  your 
attention  to  the  fact  that  I  am  not  in  short  trousers — I 
have  worn  long  ones  for  almost  twenty  years  now." 

The  railroad  man  made  a  cold  gesture  of  dismissal. 

"  You  refuse  then  to  sell  this  piece  of  land,  although  it 
is  of  almost  no  value  to  you?  Even  though  I  tell  you  that 
by  so  doing  you  cripple  our  factory?  Our  business  is  a 
large  one  and  deserves  some  consideration." 

For  answer,  a  contemptuous  shrug.  "  We  have  already 
come  to  a  decision  in  this  matter;  you  have  received  it  in 
writing.  The  affair  has  passed  beyond  our  consideration. 
You  must  pardon  me,  but  I  have  other  important  busi- 
ness." 

"  One  other  question,  if  you  please.     As  matters  stand, 


32  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

I  would  be  willing  to  make  a  concession  to  the  railroad  in 
return— if " 

"  Herr  Wiskotten,  this  is  no  horse  deal,  and  my  time 
is  occupied  this  morning." 

"Then  you  refuse?" 

"  A  new  proposition  coming  from  you  would  reopen  the 
matter." 

There  was  a  ring  of  impatient  formality  in  the  general 
manager's  voice. 

"Thanks.  I'll  not  waste  the  ink.  Well  then,  if  I 
must,  by  all  that's  holy  I'll  build  my  new  factory  on  the 
land  adjoining  the  Rittershauser  Station  side  tracks.  It's 
to  be  hoped  we'll  get  on  peaceably.  According  to  your 
regulations,  soot  and  cinders  from  your  engines  must 
take  care  of  themselves  and  not  fall  on  my  lands. 
I  understand  that  those  smoke-consuming  devices  are 
costly." 

"  Of  what  land  are  you  speaking?  The  only  building 
site  in  that  locality  has  been  offered  us  by  the  city." 

"  Very  unbusinesslike  of  them !  They  have  not  yet 
completed  a  deal  with  the  present  owner." 

The  official  looked  up  sharply  at  that.  Then  he  rang 
for  his  book  of  records  and  ran  through  it  swiftly.  "  Here 
it  is.  What  right  have  you  to  call  this  your  land?  The 
owner  is  Albert  Kolsch." 

"  What,  my  dear  sir,  what !  The  present  owner  stands 
before  you." 

"  Can  you  prove  it?  " 

"  If  you  are  interested  in  my  land.  I  have  the  deed  with 
me.  You  can  see  for  yourself." 

The  official  read,  biting  his  lips.  Then  with  a  sudden 
access  of  politeness,  "  Won't  you  sit  down,  sir?  " 

"  Thank  you,  I  have  become  quite  accustomed  to  stand- 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  33 

"  I  must  beg  your  pardon,  but  in  the  press  of  business 
one  forgets — I  beg  of  you,  Herr  Wiskotten." 

Gustav  sat  down,  but  with  the  protest,  "  It  is  almost 
noon,  Herr  Manager,  you  know  the  dinner  hour  is  all  im- 
portant in  a  burgher's  household  like  mine."  He  laughed 
cheerily.  "  The  affair  is  so  simple !  You  have  need  of 
my  land,  pressing  need." 

"  Well,  well,  that  might  be  disputed !  " 

"  But  we'll  not  dispute  it ;  it  would  be  mere  loss  of  time. 
Now,  for  my  part,  I  need  your  land  just  as  much  as  you 
need  mine.  What  would  a  pair  of  shrewd  old  farmers  do  in 
such  a  case  to  save  time  and  expense?  They  would  trade." 

"  It's  not  so  simple  as  all  that.  The  value  of  each 
piece  must  be  ascertained." 

"  The  size  of  each  is  almost  identical,  the  value,  however, 
depends  wholly  on  our  mutual  needs.  Raise  your  price  as 
you  will,  mine  shall  follow,  so  you  see  their  value  is  equal 
in  the  end  as  in  the  beginning." 

"  You  marshal  your  attack  swiftly,  Herr  Wiskotten." 

"  I  know  what  is  due  my  present  opponent !  " 

The  official  bowed.  "  I  must  confer  with  the  president 
at  once.  Tomorrow  at  this  time  satisfactory  to  you?  " 

Gustav  assented.  "  It  pleases  me  to  reach  a  conclusion 
so  quickly.  It  is  imperative  that  I  start  building  at  once, 
either  here — or  there.  So  good  day  until  tomorrow  at 
twelve,  Herr  Director." 

"Till  we  meet  again,  Herr  Wiskotten,"  said  the  di7 
rector,  with  a  cordial  handshake.  As  the  door  closed  he 
muttered,  in  reluctant  admiration,  "  These  Wupper  valley 
people:  they  are  said  to  be  as  pious  as  the  orthodox 
Jews ;  they're  as  rapacious  too — yes  indeed." 

Gustav  went  directly  to  the  station  in  a  silent  triumphal 
march,  his  gray-blue  eyes  blazing  a  challenge  to  the  sun 
itself.  He  was  seeing  a  vision  of  the  new  factory,  that 


34  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

property  he  hsld  in  trust  for  future  Wiskottens.  It  was. 
to  grow,  expand,  live.  A  hundred  years  ago  the  Barmen- 
ites  had  all  been  peasants,  and  the  old  peasant  blood,  blood 
of  a  frugal,  hard-working  people,  stirred  in  him.  To 
have,  to  hold,  to  administer  so  that  family  and  property 
would  not  cease  to  grow.  To  inherit  and  to  hand  down 
an  increased  heritage.  The  spirit  that  now  shone  in  those 
gray-blue  eyes  was  the  one  that  Paul  Wiskotten  had 
called  "  the  individuality  of  the  family."  He,  the  dreamer 
among  the  brothers,  had  recognized  it  and  tried  to  ex- 
plain it  to  Ewald  during  their  talk  on  the  heights  above 
Barmen. 

When  Gustav  reached  home  the  silence  of  the  midday 
pause  reigned.  There  was  no  one  at  the  factory  but  old 
Christian,  who  sat  outside  the  door  of  the  machine  house, 
eating  a  sorry  mess  of  beef  and  vegetables  out  of  a  tin 
dish.  Whenever  he  came  upon  an  especially  choice  tidbit 
he  popped  it  into  the  mouth  of  a  tow-headed  youngster 
who  was  waiting  for  the  dish  to  be  emptied,  and  mean- 
while followed  his  father's  every  move  with  greedy  eyes. 

"  Didn't  the  little  fellow  get  anything  to  eat  at  home, 
Christian?" 

"  Of  course !  His  little  belly  is  full  enough !  But  the 
young  pest  thinks  that  anything  of  his  daddy's  must  taste 
extra  good,"  he  said,  giving  the  youngster  a  playful 
slap.  "  You  know  how  that  is  yourself,  Herr  Wiskotten/' 

Gustav  felt  a  sudden  longing  to  see  his  own  children, 
yet  he  would  not  leave  the  black  Wupper  without  another 
glance,  and  the  silent  threat,  "  Just  wait,  old  river,  we'll 
soon  have  you  blacker  than  ever !  "  Then  he  rapidly  cov- 
ered the  short  distance  to  his  home  and  flew  up  the  porch 
steps.  "Good  day,  Emily;  where  are  the  children?" 

"  They'd  have  starved  if  they  had  waited  for  their 
father.  The  roast  is  ruined." 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  35 

"  What  matter,  if  we're  not.  My,  but  you're  dressed 
up  today !  " 

"  Oh,  Gustav !  Take  your  hands  off  of  me.  This  is 
an  old  dress,  altogether  out  of  date." 

"  But  you're  not,  my  dear.  Come  here  to  me ;  what  do  I 
care  about  the  dress,  anyway?  " 

He  took  her  in  his  arms  and  kissed  her  soundly.  "  A 
mouth  as  sweet  as  honey — what  difference  do  clothes  make 
—well,  what's  the  matter?  " 

"  Gustav,"  she  said,  pettishly,  freeing  herself  from  his 
embrace,  "  you've  mussed  my  hair." 

"  Hair  that  is  soft  as  silk.  I  could  make  good  use  of  it 
in  the  factory.  Come  on,  give  it  to  me :  I've  earned  it !  " 

"  You  and  your  eternal  factory !  " 

"  Oh,  Emily,  I  must  tell  you — we  have  the  land." 

"  What  land  are  you  talking  of  now?  " 

"  The  railroad  land.  I  opened  those  fellows'  eyes.  They 
stopped  their  train  fast  enough  at  my  signal.  In  March 
we're  going  to  build." 

"  You're  surely  not  going  to  sink  any  more  money  into 
the  factory !  Why  should  you?  Think  of  our  children !  " 

"  Just  on  their  account,  just  because  we  have  them. 
Not  sink  it,  but  get  it  back  again  doubled — yes,  doubled 
and  trebled.  Just  wait  till  the  new  buildings  are  up. 
Then  the  450  H.P.  and  the  150  H.P.  shall  both  have  room 
to  breathe  in.  They'll  feed  the  whole  Wiskotten  crew ;  the 
whole  family  shall  be  satisfied." 

"  More  than  satisfied  if  you  are  successful !  " 

"  There  is  no  other  way  to  become  successful.  Nowa- 
days only  the  great  industries  have  any  say  in  regulating 
trade,  and  you  may  rest  assured  that  ours  will  be  among 
them." 

He  emptied  his  wineglass  and  continued : 

"  Emily,  if  you  see  your  father " 


36  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

"Well,  what  then?  Do  you  want  him  to  give  you 
money?  He  thinks  more  of  his  child's  welfare  than  you 
do  of  yours." 

"  Tell  him  I'll  be  over  this  evening.  He'd  better  put  a 
bottle  on  ice.  We'll  take  counsel  over  the  welfare  of  his 
child." 

He  stood  up  and  stretched.  "  My,  that  tasted  good. 
Now  the  human  engine  has  a  new  supply  of  fuel."  The 
great  arms  circled  like  a  windmill.  Emily  glanced  at  him 
with  furtive  pride.  If  only  he  would  not  treat  her  like  a 
silly  child.  She,  a  wife  and  a  mother !  What  more  could 
he  ask? 

"Emily!" 

"Yes?" 

He  laughed,  and  she  could  not  help  joining  in  the  spon- 
taneous mirth.  This  time  she  allowed  herself  to  be  gath- 
ered into  his  strong,  loving  arms  without  protest. 

"  Now  call  the  children." 

"  They  came  clattering  in  at  the  summons :  the  boy — 
a  Gustav,  like  all  the  firstborn  of  the  family — even  more 
like  his  father  in  his  waking  hours ;  the  girl — another 
Emily  in  miniature,  stumbling  in  her  eagerness  to  reach 
her  father.  He  picked  her  up  and  set  her  on  his  shoulder, 
where  she  crowed  with  delight. 

"  Well,  you  rascals,  you  let  your  father  eat  all  alone." 

"Did  you  eat  up  both  apples  all  by  yourself?  "  asked 
the  boy,  glancing  at  the  table  with  a  disappointed  air. 

"  Were  you  not  willing  for  me  to  have  them,  little 
son?" 

"  Oh,  yes ;  but  you  see,  Emily  and  I  thought  we  were 
going  to  get  them." 

"Well  then,  why  didn't  you  look  and  see  if  they  are 
really  in  my  stomach  ?  " 

With  a  shout  the  little  girl  climbed  down  from  his 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  37 

shoulder,  and  he  was  attacked  on  both  sides  at  once,  as 
the  search  began. 

"  Ha  !  "  cried  the  boy. 

"  He-e !  "  cried  the  baby  girl. 

They  were  about  to  make  off  with  their  spoil  when  the 
mother  interposed.  "What!  Where  are  your  manners? 
You  must  say,  *  Thank  you.'  " 

"  Thank  you,"  they  said,  plaintively,  looking  down  at 
the  apples  that  this  forced  tribute  had  robbed  of  half  their 
value. 

Gustav  laughed  and  stroked  his  son's  hand.  "  Tell  me, 
boy,  what  do  you  want  to  be?  " 

"  A  preacher." 

"  What !  Now,  how  did  you  ever  get  that  idea  into  your 
head?" 

"  Why,  then  I  would  talk  in  church  and  no  one  could 
make  me  hush.  But — wait — I'd  rather  be  something  else." 

"  Herr  Gott,  what  will  it  be  now?  " 

"  Under-taker-driver." 

"Undertaker's  driver?" 

"  Then  I'd  always  have  a  long  procession  behind  me, 
and  I'd  always  be  at  the  head  of  it." 

Gustav  heaved  a  sigh  of  comic  relief.  "  Thank  the 
Lord — he  at  least  has  ambition." 

***** 

The  factory  whistles  sounded  the  end  of  the  noon  hour, 
and  men  hurried  to  answer  its  summons  from  both  sides  of 
the  Wupper,  from  end  to  end  of  the  busy  valley. 


CHAPTER  III 

THE  streets  lay  deserted,  dead.  The  windows  looking 
out  on  them  were  closed,  the  doors  bolted.  Not  a  child 
was  to  be  seen  playing  on  the  pavements.  A  profound  and 
solemn  silence,  a  peaceful  hush  had  replaced  all  the  ordi- 
nary hurry  and  noise  of  week  days.  The  tall  factory 
chimneys  on  this  March  morning — their  importance  had 
suddenly  vanished.  It  was  a  Sunday  morning. 

A  faint  whisper  of  church  bells  seemed  to  hang  over  the 
valley.  A  few  women's  heads  appeared  at  the  window. 
They  were  ready  and  waiting.  Then  the  first  full  peal 
sounded,  a  second,  a  third  more  insistent  followed.  At 
this  last  imperative  summons  the  men  folks,  who 
had  been  reading  their  Sunday  papers  in  the  comfort  of 
shirtsleeves,  arose  and  put  on  their  coats. 

Without,  the  harmonious  clamor  of  the  bells  rose  and 
swelled.  Children  were  given  their  hymnals  and  pennies 
for  the  collection.  Their  elders  searched  hurriedly  for 
larger  coins.  Meanwhile  no  one  spoke,  for  the  hush  of 
the  Sabbath  was  felt  in  the  houses  of  the  "  pious  Wupper- 
thalers." 

The  air  shook  with  the  vibrant  war  of  the  bells  sounding 
their  "  Praised  be  the  Lord  !  "  in  eager  rivalry.  The  valley 
people  were  indeed  pious  and  zealous,  but  various  in  their 
confessions  of  faith,  and  royally  intolerant  each  of  all  the 
others.  Lutheran  and  Reformed,  each  held  their  own, 
neither  recognizing  the  United  Lutheran-Reformed.  The 
few  Catholics  of  the  valley  had  made  their  faith  con- 
spicuous by  the  building  of  a  church  that  boasted  of 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  39 

the  highest  towers  in  the  Rhine  provinces.  The  few  Jew- 
ish merchants  were  important  only  in  a  political  way,  but 
numerous  other  sects,  whom  the  evangelical  services  dis- 
pleased, were  scattered  sparingly  over  the  whole  valley. 

Few  or  many,  each  sect  stuck  to  its  colors  uncompro- 
misingly. The  Reformed  made  little  distinction  between 
Lutheran  and  Catholic,  the  Lutherans  returned  the  com- 
pliment, as  did  the  others.  In  all  the  joyous  medley  of 
sound  each  sought  out  the  voice  of  his  own  bell,  and,  on 
finding  it,  closed  his  ears  to  all  the  others. 

From  end  to  end  the  valley  rang  with  the  challenge. 
Doors  opened  and  the  churchgoers  appeared,  singly,  in 
couples  or  family  groups,  all  silent  and  grave.  As  they 
moved,  processionlike,  toward  their  various  churches, 
friend  met  friend  with  stiff  nod  and  compressed  lips. 
Comment  and  criticism  were  locked  behind  those  pursed-up 
mouths  to  await  a  later  hour ;  but  sharp  glances  and  raised 
eyebrows  reproved  any  levity.  Once  there  was  a  stir,  and 
the  passersby  made  way  respectfully  for  an  elder  and  his 
family,  who  passed  with  fishy,  introspective  eyes. 

For  half  an  hour  the  song  of  the  bells  continued.  For 
half  an  hour  the  pavement  resounded  dully  to  the  tread  of 
the  churchgoers.  All  types  were  to  be  seen.  Pale  artisans 
with  downcast  eyes ;  strong  laborers  with  smiling,  honest 
faces ;  alert,  level-eyed  factory  owners ;  women  and  girls 
of  all  classes,  some  laggard  and  wornout,  with  an  ominous 
red  flush  on  their  cheek  bones,  and  hair  drawn  tightly  back 
from  their  faces,  others  plump  and  self-satisfied,  wives  and 
daughters  of  prosperous  burghers ;  beside  them  the  whole- 
some, truly  vital  daughters  of  the  Bergish  peasant  stock. 

One  last  peal  of  the  bells,  then  a  silence  fell  on  air  and 
street.  The  last  few  stragglers,  red  and  mortified,  hast- 
ened into  their  church,  the  heavy  doors  closed  with  a  clang 
of  finality,  and  the  valley  resumed  its  deathlike  calm. 


40  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

The  Wiskotten  home  shared  this  Sunday  silence.  It 
stood  a  few  blocks  from  the  factory,  in  the  midst  of  an 
old-fashioned  garden.  A  faint  odor  of  cooking  escaped 
from  the  spotless  kitchen,  carrying  with  it  a  pleasant 
promise  of  Sunday  dinner.  In  the  sitting-room,  whose 
windows  opened  on  the  street,  the  two  old  people  sat 
comfortably  ensconced  in  wicker  chairs  on  either  side  of  a 
long  table.  Each  commanded  a  view  of  the  street  from  a 
window.  The  maid  was  at  church  and  they  were  alone. 

Wiskotten,  Sr.,  felt  very  comfortable  as  he  settled  back 
against  the  head  cushion  Emily  had  embroidered  for  him, 
and  sipped  his  glass  of  warm,  red  wine.  His  blue  eyes, 
two  cheery  torches  of  good  faith,  beamed  with  a  quiet 
steadiness  from  his  wrinkled  face,  that  somehow  retained 
an  air  of  youth,  despite  white  hair  and  furrows  of  time. 
Of  late  his  gout  had  got  somewhat  the  better  of  him. 
His  early  life  had  been  a  hard  one.  He  had  been  a  dyer 
in  a  small  way  until  after  his  marriage  with  a  ribbon  manu- 
facturer's daughter,  then  he  had  taken  over  his  parents-in- 
law's  business  and  built  it  up  into  a  modern  concern. 
From  then  until  the  time  when  his  eldest  son,  Gustav,  had 
taken  over  the  reins  he  had  been  at  his  post  every  day, 
first  there  and  last  to  go,  as  was  Gustav  now.  But  his 
days  of  enforced  rest  had  come,  gout  held  him  prisoner, 
willy  nilly.  He  sipped  his  wine  luxuriously,  and  smiled 
with  contentment. 

Frau  Wiskotten,  who  until  now  had  been  watching  the 
churchgoers,  turned  to  the  table  and  reached  for  her 
spectacles.  She  wore  a  matronly  black  dress  that  stood 
out  in  stiff,  ample  folds,  and  her  hair — that  sixty  years 
had  failed  to  whiten — was  covered  by  a  black  lace  cap. 
The  obstinate  spectacles  were  forced  from  their  retreat 
and  now  bestrode  her  nose. 

"  Well,  Mother?  " 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  41 

"  Today  is  the  second  Sunday  before  Easter." 

"  It  should  be,  Mother." 

"  You  <  should  be  '  sure  of  it." 

"  But  you  know  all  about  such  things,  Mother,  so  that 
makes  us  both  know." 

Frau  Wiskotten  took  up  the  family  Bible,  which  had 
been  on  the  newspapers.  "  The  Gospel  for  Judika  Sun- 
day is  the  eighth  chapter  of  St.  John,  verses  forty-six  to 
fifty-nine.  Listen,  Father: 

"  '  Which  of  you  convinceth  me  of  sin?  And  if  I  say 
the  truth,  why  do  you  not  believe  me  ? 

"  '  He  that  is  of  God  heareth  God's  words ;  ye  therefore 
hear  them  not,  because  ye  are  not  of  God. 

"  *  Then  answered  the  Jews  and  said  unto  him,  Say  we 
not  well  that  thou  art  a  Samaritan  and  hast  a  devil? 

"  '  Jesus  answered,  I  have  not  a  devil ;  but  I  honor  my 
Father  and  you  do  dishonor  me. 

"  '  And  I  seek  not  my  own  glory ;  there  is  one  that  seek- 
eth  and  judgeth.  Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  you,  If  a 
man  keep  my  saying  he  shall  never  see  death.'  " 

The  reader  paused,  pushed  up  her  glasses  and  peered 
at  her  husband.  "  Father,  then  we  shall  not  be  parted." 

"  Assuredly  not,  Mother." 

"  But  I  sometimes  question,  '  Have  I  always  kept  Hia 
words  and  held  His  will  above  my  own?  ' ' 

"  Now,  Mother,  if  you  have  not,  who  has?  " 

"  That's  what  you  think,  but  our  Lord  may  see  things 
differently." 

"  Our  Lord  Jesus  knows  you  quite  as  well  as  I  do." 

"  Yes,  Father,"  a  girlish  blush  rose  on  the  old  face, 
"  but  you  see  me  with  different  eyes." 

"  What  then,  Mother?  I  have  loved  you  and  you  have 
loved  me,  and  our  children  are  sturdy  fellows." 

"  But  was  it  always  a  truly  Christian  wedlock?  " 


42  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

"  H'm !  Yes,  with  now  and  then  a  little  thunderstorm. 
But  it  was  always  '  Christian  '  thunder." 

"  You  just  bring  up  six  boys " 

"  And  one  husband." 

"  And  keep  an  eye  on  the  factory  girls  besides.  If  one 
sometimes  lets  a  hand  or  tongue  fly  loose " 

"  Yes,  yes,  you  are  doubtless  in  the  right.  The  chil- 
dren could  stand  a  box  on  the  ear  now  and  then." 

"  AcJi!  I  was  not  talking  of  that.  It  did  them  good, 
made  them  grow.  But  I  was  wondering  if  I  had  not  been 
sinfully  proud  at  some  time  and  done  injustice  to  some 
poor  unfortunate  creature.  That  is  what  St.  John  means. 
*  I  seek  not  my  own  glory :  there  is  one  that  seeketh  and 
judgeth.'  Mother,  if  you  are  uncertain  in  your  own 
mind,  you  can  consult  with  Gustav  about  raising  the  wages 
at  the  factory." 

"  What  in  the  world  are  you  talking  about  now?  That 
has  nothing  at  all  to  do  with  to-day's  Gospel.  Our  women 
get  such  good  wages  now  that  they  come  to  the  factory 
dressed  like  fine  ladies  with  feathers  in  their  hats.  I  put  a 
stop  to  that,  you  may  be  sure.  'Twill  not  happen  again." 

"  Then  tell  me  just  what  do  you  mean." 

"  I  mean,  have  we  not  in  our  married  partnership  thought 
too  much  of  accumulating  worldly  goods  instead  of  lay- 
ing up  treasures  in  heaven?  " 

"  Well,  Mother,  you  alone  can  decide.  I've  just  worked 
on  from  day  to  day.  You've  kept  the  accounts." 

"And  what  would  have  happened  if  I  had  not?  If  I 
had  not  worked  like  a  hired  overseer  in  the  house  and  at 
the  factory,  keeping  everything  in  order,  would  that  have 
been  better?" 

Old  Wiskotten  leaned  across  the  table  and  reached  for 
the  hand  of  his  -tireless  helpmate.  They  remained  thus 
hand  in  hand  for  a  while.  The  clock  ticked  in  the  quiet 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  43 

room  and  its  hands  traveled  eagerly  on.  But  the  energetic 
old  lady  could  not  remain  silent  long.  She  spoke  again. 

"  Nowadays  so  many  say  they  seek  the  Lord  God,  but 
they  really  fear  lest  they  find  him.  For  God  is  not  found 
in  idleness  but  in  labor.  Whoever  labors  follows  God's 
word  and  whoever  obeys  God's  word  shall  not  see  death 
forever,  says  the  Gospel  of  the  day.  So  I  think,  Father, 
that  you  and  I  shall  not  see  death." 

The  strong-minded  woman  interpreted  the  text  to  her 
satisfaction  and  her  husband  acknowledged  her  fearless 
philosophy  of  life  with  a  nod  of  his  white  head. 

Thoughtfully  he  sipped  the  mild  red  wine  and  looked 
out  into  the  clear  March  morning.  He  saw  the  high  chim- 
ney of  his  factory  that  he  had  built  up  stone  by  stone  in 
his  laborious  lifetime ;  he  saw,  too,  his  six  sons,  standing 
firm  and  strong  in  their  inheritance,  his  eldest,  Gustav, 
their  leader,  all  ready,  in  his  turn,  to  add  to  the  building 
of  the  family  fortunes,  stone  by  stone.  He  sensed  the 
strong  benediction  of  his  wife's  speech,  "  God  is  in  labor." 
He  felt  it  descending  on  him  through  his  sons,  who  labored 
in  continuation  of  his  race  and  his  lifework.  No,  he 
would  not  see  death.  Then  he  thought  of  his  youngest, 
Ewald.  He  was  very  proud  of  the  boy,  the  only  one  of 
the  six  to  complete  his  studies.  Mother  had  borne  him 
when  she  was  past  forty.  Too  bad  that  the  youngster 
was  not  going  into  the  factory  with  the  rest.  Nowadays, 
when  one  had  to  work  in  the  world  markets,  education  was 
really  not  a  drawback.  He  debated  whether  he  should  talk 
with  Gustav  about  it  some  time.  But  mother  had  her 
own  ideas  about  the  boy.  Well,  well,  a  Wiskotten  in  the 
Wupper  valley  pulpit  wouldn't  be  so  bad  either.  But 
anyway,  such  a  fine  boy — it  was  a  pity. 

Gustav  was  coming  through  the  front  garden  with  his 
children.  Little  Emily  spied  her  grandparents  at  their 


44  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

windows  and  waved  her  little  arms  like  windmills.  Little 
Gustav,  conscious  of  his  Sunday  dignity,  solemnly  pulled 
off  his  cap.  Then  both  clattered  up  the  stairs. 

"  Mamma  sends  greeting,"  cried  the  boy,  as  he  pushed 
in  ahead. 

"  She  is  at  church,"  cried  the  little  girl,  anxious  to  tell 
her  bit  of  news.  Then  they  kissed  their  grandparents 
and  dutifully  submitted  to  their  caresses.  Grandmother 
always  had  Berlin  almond  cake  in  her  cake  box. 

"  I  see  you're  not  at  church,"  said  Frau  Wiskotten,  to 
her  son,  after  the  first  greetings. 

"  No,  Mother,  I  was  busy  at  the  factory  making  new 
plans.  Sunday  quiet  is  just  the  time  for  such  work." 

"  I  don't  know  how  to  make  it  right  with  the  pastor  for 
always  staying  away." 

"  Tell  him  that  I  am  working  so  that  his  church  may 
remain  in  the  valley,"  he  said,  laughing.  His  father 
joined  in,  but  the  old  lady  was  displeased. 

"  That's  all  talk.  Sunday  work  is  like  veal,  only  half 
red  meat.  There's  no  real  good  in  it." 

"  Just  the  same,  Mother,  I  think  you'll  enjoy  the  flavor 
of  it  later." 

The  old  woman's  ill-temper  vanished.  After  all,  the 
others  were  all  at  church  and  it  was,  perhaps,  as  well  that 
this  one  remained  at  home  to  look  after  affairs. 

"Everything  all  right?"  she  asked. 

"  Next  week  we'll  begin  excavating.  Tomorrow  the 
transfer  of  the  deed  is  to  be  recorded.  I  had  the  land 
appraised  yesterday,  so  that  I  might  know  what  we  owe 
Kolsch." 

"  It  will  pinch  us  to  pay  him  just  now." 

"Kolsch?  Pay  him?  He's  going  to  leave  it  with  the 
factory  at  four  per  cent,  interest.  He  made  me  the 
proposition  himself  without  the  flicker  of  an  eyelash.  He's 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  45 

a  wonder!  If  he  were  not  really  a  part  of  the  factory, 
almost  one  of  us,  I'd  feel  humiliated.  The  city  would 
have  paid  him  twice  as  much.  But  after  all,  the  factory  is 
the  factory,  and  it  doesn't  do  to  sentimentalize  over  what 
is  done  there.  We  needed  the  room  for  it  to  grow  in." 

"  And  the  money  for  building?  "  asked  the  mother,  with- 
out giving  another  thought  to  Kolsch  and  his  generosity. 
"  Will  old  Scharwachter  contribute?  " 

Gustav  rumpled  his  black  hair.  "  He's  trying  to  back 
out.  Talks  a  lot  about  his  death  and  that  Emily  will  have 
everything  then,  but  says  he  doesn't  want  to  undress  be- 
fore he's  ready  to  go  to  bed.  I  can't  stand  the  tedious 
old  fellow,  but  my  personal  likes  and  dislikes  are  nothing 
to  the  business,  absolutely  nothing.  I  refused  to  be  put 
off.  When  I  had  finished  two  bottles  of  his  « Zeltinger ' 
he  began  to  worry  about  the  fate  of  the  third,  so  he  finally 
declared  himself  ready  to  advance  the  building  money, 
subject  to  withdrawal  from  month  to  month.  It's  all  the 
same  to  us  if  only  he  loans  it.  He  is  welcome  to  what 
satisfaction  he  gets  out  of  the  terms." 

"  Grandmother,  I'd  also  like  some  sat-is-faction."  The 
children  had  become  restless  during  this  serious  conversa- 
tion. 

"  What's  that  you  want?  " 

"  Berliner-Brat,"  said  the  grandfather,  and  nodded  in- 
dulgently to  his  pets.  Each  was  given  a  piece  of  the 
coveted  dainty  with  the  warning,  "  Now  you  must  be  still 
as  mice  while  your  elders  talk." 

"  Church  is  out,  Mother,"  said  the  old  man,  his  eyes 
on  the  returning  stream  of  humanity  that  flowed  more 
briskly  than  it  had  before.  They  were  more  erect,  walked 
more  briskly,  and  looked  happier.  It  was  as  though  they 
had  carried  a  burden  of  cares  and  heavy  thoughts  into  the 
church  with  them  and  cast  them  off  there. 


46  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

"  Here  are  the  boys !  " 

"  August  is  not  with  them." 

"  He  probably  took  up  the  collection,"  said  Gustav. 

The  other  four  arrived,  greeted  their  parents  and 
brother.  William  and  Fritz  had  on  their  topcoats  and 
carried  their  hats  in  readiness  to  go  out  again. 

"  Will  you  drink  a  morning  glass  with  us,  Gustav?  " 

"  That  suits  me.    How  about  you,  Father?  " 

"  If  my  foot  were  not  so  bad.     Drink  one  for  me." 

"You  should  have  said  something  more  elevating  to 
the  boys,"  grumbled  Frau  Wiskotten.  "  Out  of  church, 
into  the  tavern.  That's  not  right." 

"  We  have  a  business  appointment  at  the  Hotel  Vogeler, 
Mother.  Good-by  for  a  while." 

"  Dinner's  promptly  at  one  o'clock." 

Paul  and  Ewald  came  out  of  their  room,  where  they 
had  gone  to  lay  aside  their  coats,  hats,  and  prayer  books. 
Their  father  pushed  the  decanter  toward  them  and  they 
took  glasses  from  the  sideboard  and  sat  down  beside  him. 

"  Of  what  did  the  pastor  preach  this  morning?  "  asked 
Frau  Wiskotten  of  her  youngest. 

"  Of  the  goodness  of  God,"  he  answered,  glibly. 

"  I  can  readily  believe  that.  Is  that  all  you  remem- 
ber? " 

"  Beside  me  on  the  last  bench  there  were  two  youngsters 
who  spent  their  time  trading  postage  stamps." 

"  You  should  have  boxed  their  ears.  It  is  terrible  the 
way  children  are  brought  up  nowadays.  The  mothers  are 
to  blame.  Nothing  serious,  nothing  but  frivolity  in  their 
heads !  Those  women !  " 

Emily  Wiskotten  came  for  the  children.  She  looked 
very  pretty  in  her  modish  coat  and  broad-brimmed  hat, 
but  she  was  annoyed  at  not  finding  her  husband  there. 

"  He  might  have  waited  a  minute.    He's  afraid  the  beer 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  47 

would  run  away.  I  must  go  home  directly  or  none  of  us 
will  have  anything  to  eat  for  dinner." 

Hardly  had  she  gone  when  the  doorbell  rang  again.  A 
sonorous  voice  sounded  on  the  stairway,  with  August's 
respectful  tones  responding. 

"  The  pastor !  "  said  those  in  the  living  room. 

"Good  morning,  my  dear  Frau  Wiskotten.  Good 
morning,  my  dear  Herr  Wiskotten.  How  are  you  both? 
Is  the  red  wine  losing  its  savor?  Yes,  yes,  where  one  sins 
in  his  youth  he  is  punished,  surely  punished  in  his  old  age." 
The  short,  chubby  man  with  gray  whiskers  said  this  in  a 
humorous,  fatherly  tone. 

"  No,  Herr  Pastor,"  answered  old  Wiskotten.  "  That  is 
not  altogether  my  case.  In  my  youth  I  hardly  knew  there 
was  such  a  thing  as  wine.  At  best,  I  sometimes  had  a 
drop  of  whiskey." 

"  Whiskey !  We  must  not  soil  our  mouths  with  even  the 
name  of  that  drink !  No,  Frau  Wiskotten,  I  cannot  stay. 
I  have  some  sick  visits  to  pay  in  the  parish.  My  Sundays 
belong  to  the  poor.  I  just  stopped  to  inquire  after  your 
husband.  I'm  pleased  to  find  him  so  well.  Ah !  here  is 
our  divinity  student.  Exitus  acta  probat,  says  the  old 
pagan  Ovid.  And  now  we  are  ready  to  study  theology?  " 

Ewald  blushed  painfully  and  stammered,  "  The  old 
pagan  Ovid  also  says,  Disce  bomis  artes,  romana  jwoen- 
tus!  " 

"  I  don't  understand  that,"  said  Frau  Wiskotten,  with 
a  questioning  glance  at  the  pastor. 

"  The  boy  was  quoting,  '  Learn  the  fine  arts,  I  exhort 
you,  Roman  youths,'  "  explained  the  pastor.  "  But  that? 
God  be  praised  and  thanked,  has  nothing  to  do  with 
theology." 

Paul  Wiskotten  nudged  his  younger  brother  warningly. 
"  Be  still,"  he  whispered. 


48  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

"  Very  well,"  continued  the  pastor,  "  I'll  come  to 
dinner  some  week  day.  Then  we'll  discuss  the  future 
studies  of  our  fledgling.  I  wish  you  all  a  very  good 
afternoon.  August  shall  accompany  me  on  my  sick 
visits." 

"  Father,  I  will  not,"  cried  Ewald,  impetuously,  as  his 
mother  went  to  the  door  with  the  pastor.  He  clutched  his 
father's  hand  despairingly.  "  I  will  not,  I  cannot  be- 
come a  theological  student." 

"Hush!  Your  mother  must  not  hear  you.  Cannot? 
Why,  the  whole  world  is  open  to  one  who  has  studied  as 
much  as  you.  Look  at  me !  When  I  had  served  my  ap- 
prenticeship with  the  dyer  Frowein  in  Elberfeld,  I  was 
given  a  certificate  and  my  master  and  two  innkeepers — 
friends  of  his — went  to  the  mayor  with  me  as  witnesses. 
He  put  his  official  stamp  on  it,  and  then  my  master  clapped 
me  on  the  back,  saying  proudly :  '  Now,  with  that  you  can 
make  your  way  anywhere  in  the  world.'  I  just  had  a  few 
words  on  a  paper,  but  you  have  them  in  your  head.  Your 
health,  my  boy !  " 


That  evening  Paul  and  Ewald  Wiskotten  took  the  train 
for  Elberfeld.  The  long  Alleestrasse,  the  pride  of  Barmen, 
was  black  with  people,  taking  their  customary  Sunday 
walk.  It  was  said  that  Napoleon  I  had  planted  the  trees 
that  lined  the  avenue.  The  older  citizens  of  the  twin 
cities  of  Barmen  and  Elberfeld  still  remembered  vividly 
the  tales  their  fathers  had  told  of  the  great  Corsican.  He 
had  raised  the  Duchy  of  Berg  to  the  dignity  of  a  Grand 
Duchy,  and  in  their  hearts  its  inhabitants  had  a  weak- 
ness for  the  great  man  who  had  taken  an  intelligent  in- 
terest in  the  material  advancement  of  the  Wupper  valley. 
They  also  took  an  intimate  pleasure  in  hearing  the  old 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  49 

grandsires  speak  familiarly  of  the  great  men  and  deeds 
of  the  First  Empire,  associating  them  with  places  and 
people  of  their  own  unimportant  valley. 

Ewald  could  scarcely  wait  for  the  car  to  reach  the  court- 
house square  of  Elberfeld.  In  a  room  of  the  old  "  Post  " 
hotel  he  was  about  to  meet  all  of  the  great  artists  and 
writers  of  the  Wupper  valley,  perhaps  to  be  admitted  to 
their  number  if  he  could  prove  himself  worthy.  His  heart 
beat  high  as  Paul  opened  the  magic  door.  At  a  long  table 
sat  a  number  of  men,  young  and  old,  all  drinking  either 
wine  or  beer,  according  to  their  tastes.  One  of  them  was 
reading  aloud,  evidently  something  of  his  own,  and  the 
rest  listened  attentively.  An  atmosphere  of  solemnity 
and  detachment  from  the  world  enveloped  the  little  com- 
pany. Some  of  the  older  men  leaned  their  heads  on  their 
hands,  smiled,  and  looked  dreamily  into  space,  seeing  there, 
perhaps,  the  Olympias  of  their  youth.  But  the  younger 
listeners,  pale  and  ascetic,  with  flashing,  eager  eyes  drank 
in  the  reader's  words  in  a  state  of  mental  intoxication.  A 
poet  spoke,  and  each  knew  what  it  was  to  be  a  poet.  It 
meant  success,  the  difference  between  a  garret  and  a  salon. 
At  this  hour  they  were  all  of  the  salon,  they  bore  them- 
selves like  belted  knights  in  the  presence  of  their  overlord 
and  king. 

The  reading  ended,  and  the  young  enthusiasts  stormed 
forward  with  ready  words  of  praise ;  their  elders  dreamed 
on.  There  was  a  confused  clamor  of  voices,  one  heard 
fragments  of  literary  phrasing.  "  Iambic,"  "  Dactyl,"  and 
"Trochee,"  "History  in  Relation  to  Art,"  "Poetic 
License." 

"  That  was  splendid,  Herr  Gott,  splendid !  " 

Paul  Wiskotten  presented  his  brother.  A  momentary 
pause  to  inspect  the  newcomer,  then  the  discussion  went 
on  as  briskly  as  ever.  A  white-haired  man  in  a  long, 


50  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

thread-bare  frock  coat  motioned  him  to  an  empty  seat 
beside  him. 

"  Let  me  present  my  brother,  Ewald,"  said  Paul.  "  Herr 
Korten,  the  poet,  the  Nestor  of  the  Wupper  valley." 

"  Yes,"  answered  the  old  man,  affably,  "  the  Nestor,  an 
honorary  title  for  my  eighty  years.  I  had  rather  be  the 
Benjamin.  How  beautiful  the  world  is,  if  one  may  only 
cast  the  glamour  of  poetry  over  it.  '  Those  who  seek  my 
heaven,'  says  Zeus  to  the  poets,  '  shall  find  it  always  open 
to  receive  them.'  Thus  we  poets  are,  in  a  measure,  the 
companions  of  the  gods." 

"You  certainly  must  have  had  many  experiences  in 
your  life,  Herr  Korten,"  said  Ewald,  eagerly. 

"Experiences?  I  have  lived  eighty  years,  my  young 
friend,  eighty  years.  Others  have  seen  the  three  great 
wars  of  '64,  '66,  and  '70,  but  I  recall  also  the  stormy  year 
of  '48.  I  often  think,  who  among  the  living  has  stood  at 
the  barricades?  Old  Korten!  And  who  today  can  say 
he  has  known  the  great  Napoleon  ?  Again,  old  Korten ! 
But  you  are  not  drinking  anything?  " 

Paul  ordered  a  bottle  of  Rhine  wine.  "  If  you  will  do 
us  the  honor,  Herr  Korten." 

The  aged  man  accepted.  He  held  his  glass  to  the  light 
and  sniffed  daintily,  like  a  connoisseur,  as  if  such  wine 
were  a  daily  occurrence  with  him. 

"  Gentlemen !  to  Art !  I  would  not  care  to  live,  were 
I  not  a  poet.  For  the  poet,  the  artist — words  fail  me, 
gentlemen.  Your  health!  Prosit!"  He  emptied  the 
glass  at  one  draught.  "  Thank  you,  thank  you.  Don't 
disturb  yourselves.  If  you  would  but  yield  the  office  of 
cupbearer  to  me.  It  is  such  a  festive,  joyous  occupation, 
so  illustrious  in  history  and  romance.  One  is  a  Crasus 
scattering  liquid  gold.  *  Wine  creates  nothing  new,  but 
it  reveals  the  innermost  soul,'  says  Schiller.  Ah,  that  poet ! 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  51 

He  was  called  away  all  too  soon,  like  Napoleon "  He 

drank  his  wine,  pensively.  "  Whom  the  gods  love,  die 
young.  Had  they  then  no  love  for  me?  " 

"  You  said  *  Napoleon,'  Herr  Korten." 

"Yes,  Napoleon." 

"  Did  you  then  know  this  great  man  ?  " 

"  Know  him  ?  Yes,  indeed !  "  said  the  old  man.  "  But 
I  never  saw  him  face  to  face,  unfortunately,  never.  I 
was  four  years  old  when  the  Battle  of  the  Nations  was 
fought  at  Leipzig,  and  five  when  his  glory  was  eclipsed 
at  Waterloo.  We  of  Berg,  the  old  Duchy,  were  fired 
with  the  spirit  of  the  time  and  the  memory  of  the  French 
lived  long  here.  Far  into  the  fifties,  yes,  even  until 
shortly  before  the  wars  of  '64,  the  songs  of  Napoleon  and 
his  generals  were  sung  here  in  the  valley.  Yes,  yes,  a 
great  dead  casts  long,  long  shadows." 

"  Tell  us  one  of  these  songs  !  " 

A  gleam  of  renewed  youth  and  enthusiasm  shone  in  the 
old  man's  eyes,  as  he  declaimed  without  hesitation: 

"  '  "  Wer  1st  der  Held,  der  dort  bei  seinen  Fahnen, 
In  JugendJcraft  einhergeht,  stolz  und  kuhn? 
Sein  graues  Haupt  mil  wundersam  mich  mdhnen. 
Wer  ist  der  Held  mit  solchem  Kriegersinn." 
"  Ach,  Feldherr,"  spricht  mit  Lust  der  Offizier, 
"  Es  ist  Latour,  dein  bester  Grenadier."  ' 

"  And  Napoleon  praised  the  old  nobleman,  who  asked  no 
better  fate  than  to  serve  faithfully  and  forever." 

*"Who  is  the  hero  standing  beneath  his  banner,  proud  and 
erect  with  all  the  fire  of  youth?  I  seem  to  recognize  that  noble 
gray  head.  Who  is  the  hero  with  such  a  martial  air?" 

"  Oh,  general,"  cried  an  officer,  proudly,  "  that  is  Latour,  best  of 
all  your  grenadiers." 


52  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

' '  Zu  Strassburg  stand  in  langen,  weiten  Re'ihen 
Das  Regiment.    Der  Kaiser  tritt  heran. 
"  Wo  ist  Latour?  "    Da  schluchzten  all  die  Treuen, 
Und  ernsten  Schritts  tritt  vor  der  Flilgelmann, 
"  Ach,  Kaiser  du,  die  Adler  huldigen  dir 
Fur  Frankreich  starb  dein  bester  Grenadier!  "    "  * 

"  But,"  broke  in  Ewald,  "  in  the  year  1800,  when  La 
Tour  d'Auvergne  fell,  Bonaparte  was  not  yet  Emperor." 

"Was  he  not?  True,  true !  Well,  that  is  poetic  license. 
Perfectly  admissible,  too,  for  he  always  was  and  will 
be  the  '  Emperor  Napoleon  '  to  the  people.  That  is  the 
instinctive  feeling  that  they  have  for  the  truly  great  of 
all  times.  Do  you  think  that,  after  Waterloo,  the  people 
here  in  the  Rhine  provinces  rejoiced  at  the  Emperor's  fall? 
They  rejoiced  as  all  true  Germans  must  at  the  Prussian 
victories,  but  not  at  the  fall  of  an  Emperor  whose  rule 
we  still  hold  in  honorable  memory — all  the  more  so  as  it 
was  our  *  allies  '  the  Russians  who  mistreated  our  burghers 
and  did  violence  to  our  women,  and  forced  levies  from 
the  towns  in  the  evil  year  of  1813.  Oh,  those  Cossacks 
and  Calmucks,  and  Bashkirs !  Just  listen  to  their  song 
of  Waterloo — or  Bell-Alliance,  as  some  call  it — that  was 
sung  here  even  a  decade  ago: 

"'  Als  friih  der  andre  M  or  gen  graute, 
Der  Donner  der  Kanonen  sen-meg, 
Aurora  aus  dem  Osten  schaute, 
Die  stohen  Preussen  riefen  Sieg, 

*  The  regiment  stood  before  Strassburg  in  serried  ranks — the 
Emperor  passed  in  review. 

"Where  is  Latour?" 

A  sob  shook  the  line  of  faithful  veterans.  The  standard  bearer 
stepped  forward,  gravely. 

"  Oh,  Sire,  your  '  eagles '  give  you  homage.  He  died  for  France, 
your  best  grenadier." 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  53 

Und  Frankreich's  Heldensohne  tagen 
Dahingestreckt  aufs  weiche  Moos: 
Ihr  toter  Mund  schien  noch  zu  sagen 
Sieg  oder  Tod  sei  unser  Los.'  " 

"  Thus  do  the  people  honor  this  great  adversary.  They 
recognize  no  lying  historian,  not  they;  they  have  their 
own  poets  who  truly  speak  what  is  in  their  hearts.  Prosit, 
gentlemen ! "  He  filled  the  glasses  of  his  young  com- 
panions with  the  air  of  a  hospitable  man.  "  Perhaps 
we  remember  those  days  and  heroes  so  kindly  because  of 
the  reaction  that  followed,  the  irksome  supremacy  of  the 
demagogues,  the  faithlessness  of  our  new  rulers  that  led 
to  the  troubles  of  '48.  We  sang  those  songs  of  French 
loyalty  and  good  faith  to  shame  and  admonish  those  who 
sat  in  power  at  Berlin.  We  honored  loyalty  wherever  we 
found  it.  Bliicher  was  a  popular  hero,  as  well  as  General 
Bertrand,  who  followed  his  master  to  exile  at  St.  Helena. 
I  can  tell  you,  gentlemen,  for  my  own  part  I  have  made 
myself  hoarse  many  times  in  my  youth  singing  Bertrand's 
touching  '  Farewell.' " 

"  *  Ein  naclcter  Fels,  fern  von  Europa's  Kusten, 
Ward  zum  Gefangnis  ewig  ihm  bestimmt. 
Kein  Freundestrost  dringt  je  in  diese  Wiisten, 
Kein  Wesen  ist,  das  Teil  am  Schmerz  hier  nimmt. 
Doch  wenn  ich  Troster  meinem  Kaiser  werde 
Dann  mrd  mem  Schiksal  dennoch  selig  sein. 
Ich  war  in  Ruhm  und  GliicTc  stets  sein  Gefahrte. 
Ich  will  es  auch  im  Ungluck  ihm  nun  sein.'  "  * 

*  A  naked  rock,  far  from  his  native  shore,  has  been  assigned  to 
him  as  a  perpetual  prison.  No  friendly  comforter  penetrates  these 
wastes,  no  creature  is  there  to  share  and  lighten  his  sorrows.  If 
I  might  hasten  to  console  my  Emperor,  how  happy  would  I  call 
my  fate.  I  was  his  companion  in  glory  and  victory.  I  desire 
nothing  more  than  to  share  his  grief  and  exile. 


54  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

Ewald  Wiskotten's  eyes  flashed.  How  different  all 
this  was  from  his  usual  Sunday  at  home.  Here  was  puls- 
ing life,  fire,  color !  He  ordered  another  bottle.  The 
other  members  of  the  society  listened  with  unflagging 
interest  to  the  reminiscences  of  the  old  man.  The  poet 
who  had  read  to  them  earlier  in  the  evening  spurred  on 
the  old  narrator  with  eager  cries  and  questions.  He  was 
already  constructing  a  new  epic  based  on  the  old  man's 
experiences.  Names  and  songs  of  long  forgotten  heroes 
rose  for  an  instant  from  oblivion,  many  had  memories 
of  the  portraits  and  battle  scenes  where  these  men  had 
figured.  But  always  as  theme  and  leit-motif  of  the  con- 
versation, wherever  it  strayed,  was  the  praise  of  art,  art, 
the  creator  and  ennobler  of  all  high  sentiment — this  from 
men  who  spent  their  week  days  in  the  counting  house  or 
teaching  in  the  government  schools. 

Suddenly  a  high-pitched,  jerky  voice  broke  in: 
"  What !  Real  Rhine  wine?  Riidesheimer  at  that !  Flow- 
ing in  streams?  Seemingly  inexhaustible?  I  summon  the 
man  before  me  who  has  killed  the  rich  Jew !  In  the  name 
of  Liberty,  Fraternity,  Equality,  share  it,  share  it ! " 

"  Weert,  the  artist,"  whispered  Paul  Wiskotten  to  his 
brother.  Ewald  arose,  as  was  the  custom,  and  introduced 
himself. 

The  artist  nodded,  condescendingly,  stroking  his  bushy 
gray  beard.  "  Very  well,  very  well ;  do  you  want  your 
portrait  painted,  or  do  you  not?  That  alone  gives  your 
name  any  significance  for  me.  Well?" 

Ewald  laughed,  embarrassedly.  "  I  think,"  he  stam- 
mered, "  I  would  like " 

"  To  have  your  portrait  painted?  " 

"  To  become  an  artist  myself." 

Weert  turned  a  scornful,  blood-shot  eye  on  the  lad. 
"  To  think  that  such  a  young  man  should  already  have 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  55 

developed  such  depraved  tastes,"  he  growled,  and  took  a 
seat  at  some  distance  from  the  object  of  his  displeasure. 
This  speech  provoked  a  burst  of  laughter  in  which 
Ewald  had  the  good  sense  to  join.  He  glanced  furtively 
at  the  man  of  whose  earlier  achievements  he  had  heard 
so  much  and  decided  that  his  gruffness  was  an  indication 
of  the  artistic  temperament. 

A  few  more  poems  were  read,  and  received  with  the 
same  enthusiasm  and  emotion.  Then  the  circle  was  thinned 
by  the  departure  of  a  few  who  had  come  earlier,  and 
Ewald  found  himself  beside  his  brusque  idol.  Feverishly 
he  searched  for  a  suitable  opening. 

"May  I  ask  you  a  question,  Herr  Weert?" 
"  Young  man,  you  want  to  become  a  painter ;  you  are, 
therefore,  not  of  the  slightest  interest  to  me." 

"  Will  you  permit  me  to  visit  you  and  bring  a  few  of 
my  sketches?" 

"  I  am  no  judge  of  other  people's  work." 
"  Do  you  advise  me  not  to  become  a  painter?  " 
"  How  can  I  advise  you  when  I  don't  know  the  length 
of  your  purse?  " 

"  Must  one  be  rich,  then,  to  become  a  painter?  " 
"  To  be  a  painter,  either  rich  or  very  bad-mannered. 
I  have  chosen  the  latter." 

"  But  there  have  been  painters  who  painted  master* 
pieces  and  became  famous  in  spite  of  their  poverty. 
Lenbach,  Bocklin,  Defregger." 

"Young  man,  you  offend  me  with  your  examples.  I 
take  cognizance  only  of  the  pictures  that  /  have  painted. 
Now  listen  to  me :  I  came  here  to  drink,  not  to  discuss  art. 
When  you  consult  a  physician  or  a  lawyer,  you  have  to 
pay  a  fee;  you  expect  it.  I  don't  let  anyone  steal  my 
valuable  time  any  more  than  they.  Your  health!  That 
is  all  I  have  to  say  to  you  at  this  moment." 


56  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

He  grasped  his  goblet  in  both  hands  and  drank 
deeply. 

"Your  health,  Herr  Weert!" 

"Prosit,  Herr  Kollege!  That's  better.  Any  man  of 
gifts  who  voluntarily  buries  himself  in  your  black,  smoky 
valley  must  either  go  mad  or  turn  drunkard.  The  latter 
suits  me.  Your  health !  " 

"You  have  been  a  great  traveler,  Herr  Weert?" 

"  I've  visited,  in  flesh  and  blood,  all  the  lands  into 
which  these  poor  devils  ride  only  on  the  steeds  of  fantasy. 
But  imagination  is  a  noble  gift.  When  they  describe  the 
Italy  of  their  dreams,  I  am  fitted  with  a  nostalgia  and 
fancy  I  can  smell  the  fragrance  of  the  orange  and  lemon 
groves ;  when  they  chant  their  toreador  songs,  all  of 
Spain's  magic  rises  and  envelopes  me." 

"Ah!"  cried  Ewald,  enthusiastically.  "It  must  be 
splendid  to  be  able  to  paint  all  those  scenes." 

"Paint?  Splendid?  No,  but  to  loaf  in  those  sunny 
climes,  that  is  splendid,  I  grant  you.  Paint?  Bah!  " 

"  Your  health,  Herr  Weert!  " 

"  Your  health !    Now,  you  have  the  right  spirit." 

At  eleven  the  old  poet  rose  to  go.  Paul  sprang  up  to 
accompany  him  home  and  Ewald  followed  like  one  in  a 
trance.  He  was  in  a  state  of  mental  intoxication.  After 
leaving  the  old  man  at  his  door,  they  decided  to  walk 
home,  crossing  the  Haspeler  bridge  afoot  and  climbing 
the  heights  that  separated  the  two  towns. 

Ewald  sang  to  himself,  while  his  more  sedate  brother 
strode  along  in  silence.  It  had  been  a  gala  evening  for 
the  boys.  As  they  reached  the  heights,  the  two  cities 
appeared  below  them  still  full  of  holiday  life  and  light. 
Sunday  was  the  valley's  weekly  fete  day  and  Sunday 
lasted  till  midnight.  The  many  lights  of  the  little  homes 
shone  like  a  garland  on  the  slopes,  danced  and  flickered 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  67 

like  a  thousand  fireflies  lower  down  in  the  valley.  It  was 
a  fairy  like  scene. 

"Work  illuminates,"  said  Paul.  "Even  the  humblest 
workman's  light  shines  out  brightly." 

"  Paul,  Paul,  but  what  do  they  amount  to?  " 

"  Strong,  true  men,"  said  Paul ;  "  they  labor  all  week 
in  the  sweat  of  their  brows  to  gain  a  living  for  their 
wives  and  children,  taking  a  double  joy  in  their  Sunday 
rest  and  illumination,  for  it  alone  sheds  brightness  on  the 
toil  of  the  coming  week.  Boy,  I  have  a  great  respect 
for  the  people " 

"  Stay-at-home !  Stick-in-the-mud !  "  j  eered  his  brother. 
"  You  have  no  courage.  Out  of  your  warm  nest,  into  the 
wide  world.  Go !  even  if  it  has  to  be  as  a  day  laborer." 

"  You've  been  too  well  brought  up  for  that,  my  lad ! " 

"  Then  I'll  try  to  forget  my  upbringing.  Only  to  get 
out  of  this  smoke  hole.  Out  there  the  sun  shines." 

"  If  you've  really  determined  not  to  be  a  minister,  then 
why  not  go  into  the  factory?  Mother  would  consent  to 
that  in  the  end.  Don't  be  so  childish.  A  factory  owner, 
a  manufacturer,  is  one  kind  of  an  artist.  He  creates  too." 

"  And  has  his  Sunday  light  like  those  there,"  sneered 
the  high-spirited  boy,  looking  down  scornfully  on  the 
valley. 

It  lay  there,  star-eyed  with  lights,  the  resting  giant  of 
labor,  enjoying  its  Sunday  relaxation,  full  of  cheerful 
Sunday  thoughts. 


CHAPTER  IV 

PASTOR  SCHIRRMACHER  had  finished  his  after-dinner 
pipe.  He  carefully  emptied  the  porcelain  bowl,  let  the 
water  run  out  of  the  long,  cherry  stem,  blew  through  the 
rubber  tube  and  mouthpiece,  then  screwed  it  together 
again  and  laid  it  aside,  all  neat  and  clean  for  his  next 
smoke.  Then  he  changed  his  house  jacket  for  a  long 
frock  coat,  took  his  hat  and  overcoat,  opened  the  window 
of  his  study,  and  went  out,  telling  his  housekeeper  on  the 
way,  "  I'm  going  to  Albert  Kolsch's." 

He  did  not  find  Kolsch  at  home,  nor  had  he  expected 
to,  on  a  week  day,  but  he  entered  at  the  daughter's  in- 
vitation with  that  air  of  intimate  authority  a  pastor  has 
among  his  parishoners. 

"  My  dear  child,  your  house  is  spotless,  dazzling,"  he 
said,  looking  about  him  with  a  pleased  air.  The  living 
room  was  simple  enough,  but  the  high,  mahogany  bookcase 
indicated  literary  taste  in  some  member  of  the  family. 
From  the  neat  room  he  glanced  at  the  fresh,  wholesome 
girl  who  stood  welcoming  him.  She  had  been  confirmed 
by  Pastor  Schirrmacher  and  would  always  be  "  my  child  " 
to  him. 

"  Father's  very  particular.  He  insists  on  having  every- 
thing exactly  as  it  was  when  mother  was  alive." 

"  Your  mother  was  a  noble,  God-fearing  woman.  Now 
she  is  in  heaven  and  looks  down  upon  you  lovingly,  my 
child.  The  sight  of  you  can  give  her  nothing  but  pleas- 
ure, I  am  sure." 

Anna  Kolsch  did  not  answer.  She  was  looking  past 
58 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  59 

the  minister,  who  had  seated  himself  in  her  father's  arm- 
chair, at  a  picture  on  the  wall,  the  picture  of  a  pale, 
work-worn  woman.  There  was  a  strong  resemblance  be- 
tween mother  and  daughter;  the  slender  figure,  the  same 
heavy  braids  of  blonde  hair,  only  that  the  daughter  was 
still  erect  and  supple  and  her  expression  was  eager,  ener- 
getic. Work  had  not  yet  broken  her  body  nor  her  spirit. 

"How  long  is  it  since  I  confirmed  you?  Wait!  Four 
years  next  Easter.  You  must  be  eighteen  then,  quite  a 
young  lady.  Already  sewing  for  your  dowry  box?  " 

"Oh,  no,  Herr  Pastor!" 

"  They  all  say  that,  but  when  the  first  suitor  comes 
along  the  chests  are  already  filled  with  linen,  all  hem- 
stitched and  embroidered.  Let  me  have  a  look  at  you. 
I  knew  it,  you're  blushing." 

"  Only  because  you  say  such  things,  Herr  Pastor," 
laughed  the  young  girl,  "  because  you " 

"I?     And  why  should  I  not?     It's  a  sacred  subject." 

"  Because — because  you  are  a  bachelor  yourself,"  she 
blurted  out,  blushing  furiously. 

The  pastor  cleared  his  throat,  closed  his  eyes,  and  for 
a  while  could  not  speak.  Then  he  replied,  "  I  admit,  I 
have  been  too  particular  and  am  punished  for  it  now. 
One  should  be  more  complacent.  Marriages  are  made  in 
heaven." 

"  But  I  have  plenty  of  time  yet,"  said  the  girl,  bash- 
fully. 

."  And  should  make  it  a  time  of  preparation,  my  child. 
Think  of  the  parable  of  the  wise  and  foolish  virgins. 
When  the  bridegroom  came  he  took  with  him  those  who 
were  ready  for  the  marriage  feast  and  the  door  was 
closed." 

"  But  truly  I'm  not  thinking  of  marriage,  Herr  Pastor. 
No  one  wants  me.  And  if  anyone  did " 


60  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

"And  if!  So,  there's  a  lover  in  the  background  after 
all." 

"  No,  no.    That  was  just  a  thoughtless  remark." 

"  Now,  now,  now,  do  I  know  him?  I  take  it  for  granted 
he's  a  steady,  sober  fellow  and  not  one  of  the  valley's 
ne'er-do-wells." 

"Herr  Pastor,  I'll  run  away  from  you  if  you 
keep  on." 

"  See,  you  have  a  guilty  conscience." 

"  Indeed  not,"  she  protested,  "  but  you  make  me  so 
confused." 

"That's  a  sure  sign.  Have  you  known  him  long? 
Since  childhood?" 

"  But  there's  no  one  at  all." 

"Let's  see.  Who  might  it  be?  Hm  .  .  .  Friends  of 
your  brother  Ernst  ...  the  Wiskottens  ?  " 

"  The  Wiskottens  ?  "  echoed  the  girl  in  evident  dismay. 

"  Don't  get  frightened,  I  understand.  I  approve  your 
choice,  my  dear  child.  I  myself  could  name  no  better 
husband  for  you  than  August  Wiskotten." 

"Herr  August?"  and  she  burst  into  such  a  musical 
peal  of  laughter  that  the  canary  in  his  cage  took  it  as  a 
challenge  and  joined  in  merrily. 

Pastor  Schirrmacher  raised  his  eyebrows  in  disapproval. 
He  had  not  expected  to  have  his  stroke  of  diplomacy  re- 
ceived in  this  way.  He  had  anticipated  a  pleased  sur- 
prise, a  shy,  incredulous  shrinking  on  the  part  of  the 
young  girl.  She  would  feel  herself  not  wholly  worthy  of 
this  suitor,  then  a  joyous,  grateful  advance  to  question 
the  reality  of  these  good  tidings.  The  pastor  felt  now 
that  his  knowledge  of  a  maiden's  heart  must  be  woefully 
inadequate,  that  it  was  a  far  more  difficult  task  to  plead 
the  suit  of  an  ardent  Wupper  valley  lover  than  to  lead 
a  maiden  into  the  mystic  presence  of  the  Heavenly  Bride- 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  61 

groom.  The  old  bachelor  grew  angry.  He  cleared  his 
throat,  raspingly. 

"  That  is  not  the  proper  way  to  receive  the  suit  of  a 
serious-minded  man,"  he  said,  reprovingly. 

The  laughter  ceased  as  if  struck  and  shattered  in  mid- 
air. A  board  creaked  in  the  sudden  silence.  Then  Anna 
Kolsch  repeated  slowly,  incredulously,  "  The — suit?  " 

The  pastor  squirmed  under  her  clear-eyed  gaze,  a  child- 
ish embarrassment  overcame  him.  Had  he  gone  too  far? 
That  Sunday  after  church  he  had  merely  promised 
August  Wiskotten  to  sound  her  as  to  her  feelings,  to  do 
no  more  than  pave  a  way  for  August  himself.  And  now 
in  his  anger  he  had  let  the  whole  secret  escape  him.  It 
was  a  painful  moment.  He  thought  longingly  of  his 
dependent  and  faithful  "  sick  and  poor  " ;  they  asked  and 
followed  his  advice.  Here  it  seemed  that  advice  and 
admonition  were  equally  unwelcome. 

"  When  I  said  '  suit,'  my  child,  I  meant  only  that  it  was 
likely  that  this  thought  might  have  come  to  August. 
Have  you  anything  against  him?  When  I  first  named  the 
Wiskottens,  merely  in  jest,  you  were  certainly  startled." 

"  No,  Herr  Pastor— no,  no !  " 

"  But  I  noticed  it.  You  must  not  try  to  deceive  your 
old  spiritual  guide,  the  one  who  led  you  to  the  Lord's 
Supper.  Perhaps  there  is  something  between  you  and  one 
of  the  Wiskottens?" 

"  No,  Herr  Pastor.  Truly,  truly,  there  is  not.  Noth- 
ing between  me  and  any  of  them." 

"  That  would  be  a  great  mistake.  A  truly  Christian 
marriage  is  not  founded  on  lust  of  the  eyes,  but  on  a 
deep,  mutual  faith  in  our  Lord  and  Saviour.  It  is  written 
in  the  proverbs  of  Solomon,  '  Favor  is  deceitful  and 
beauty  is  vain ;  but  a  woman  that  feareth  the  Lord  shall 
be  praised!'" 


62  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

The  young  girl  was  silent.  She  bit  her  lips  and  after 
a  moment  raised  her  head  and  said,  with  an  expression 
half  relief,  half  defiance,  "  My  parents  married  for  love." 
Her  tone  was  so  assured  that  the  pastor  was  taken  back. 

"My  dear  child,  who  asks  anything  else  of  you?  But 
it  is  your  Christian  duty  to  direct  your  love  toward  a 
worthy  object,  and  August  Wiskotten " 

"  I  don't  want  him,"  she  said,  curtly. 

"  Now,  now,"  he  said,  soothingly.  "  Youth  is  too  hasty 
in  its  decisions.  You  must  give  the  matter  more  thought, 
search  your  heart." 

'*  Ach,"  she  said,  "  search !  Father  always  says,  '  Love 
comes  and  it  is  there,  there's  no  resisting  or  forcing  it." 

"  Oh  very  well,  if  you  take  your  father's  word  before 
that  of  your  old  pastor ! " 

At  that  the  girl  laughed  as  merrily  as  before. 

"  But,  Herr  Pastor,  father  surely  knows.  He  is  not  an 
old  bachelor." 

Pastor  Schirrmacher  rose,  his  bushy  eyebrows  bristling 
with  disapproval.  He  took  up  his  hat  and  bid  her  a 
hasty  farewell. 

"  Remember  me  to  your  father.  When  there  is  time, 
I  wish  to  speak  with  him.  At  present  you  are  altogether 
right,  you  are  indeed  too  young  for  serious  thoughts  of 
marriage.  Adieu,  my  child,  and  do  not  forget  that  we 
must  always,  by  day  and  by  night,  search  our  thoughts 
and  motives." 

After  he  had  gone  Anna  reentered  the  living  room  and 
stood  listening  to  his  retreating  footsteps.  Then  she  fell 
to  dancing  about  the  room  with  all  the  childish  abandon 
of  her  eighteen  years,  her  canary  alone  watching  her. 

"Did  you  hear,  Hansel?  Herr  August!  Isn't  it 
enough  to  make  one  scream?  He's  thirty  years  old  and 
hasn't  a  sign  of  a  mustache.  Even  Ewald,  that  silly  boy 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  63 

Ewald,  has  one — a  very  tiny  one.    Oh,  Hansel !    Hansel !  " 

The  canary,  as  mad  with  glee  as  his  mistress,  answered 
with  a  swelling  tira-lira-lira,  and  the  now  breathless  girl 
flung  herself  into  her  father's  chair  and  began,  without 
rhyme  or  reason,  to  cry  bitterly.  The  tears  streamed  un- 
hindered over  the  fair,  young  cheeks  at  first,  then  the 
storm  of  childish  sobs  lessened  and  the  girl  sat  up,  shame- 
facedly wiped  her  eyes  and  energetically  blew  her  nose. 
"  How  silly,"  she  murmured,  "  how  dreadfully  silly." 

When  Kolsch  returned  from  the  factory  that  evening 
he  found  the  table  set,  the  coffee  simmering  for  the  evening 
meal,  and  the  beer  jug  standing  ready  to  be  filled,  accord- 
ing to  immemorial  custom  at  the  end  of  the  meal.  Kolsch 
kissed  his  girl  and  looked  at  her  searchingly. 

"What's  the  matter,  you're  quiet  as  a  mouse?  Has 
anyone  been  here?  " 

"  Only  the  pastor." 

"Well,  well,  did  he  say  anything  special?" 

"  He  asked  to  be  remembered  to  you." 

"  Thanks,"  said  Kolsch,  dryly,  as  he  let  his  daughter 
make  him  comfortable  in  his  striped  brown  house  jacket 
and  gorgeous  flowered  slippers.  Then  he  sat  down  to  his 
evening  meal.  Anna  buttered  his  bread  for  him  and  made 
generous  sandwiches  of  bologna  and  ham. 

"  Not  so  much,  Anna." 

"  A  worker  like  you  must  eat  well.    That  is  my  affair." 

"  So  I'm  under  your  thumb  here,  you  baggage ! " 

"Weren't  you  under  mother's?  Each  ruler  to  his  own 
domain.  Your's  is  the  factory,  mine  the  table." 

Kolsch  grinned  and  stroked  his  gray  beard.  Then  he 
fell  to  eating,  silently,  for  it  was  not  the  valley  custom 
to  talk  during  meals.  Only  when  he  had  finished  his  last 
mouthful  and  the  brimming  beer  jug  stood  at  his  elbow 
did  he  begin  to  talk  of  his  day  at  the  factory. 


64  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

"  That  fellow,  Gustav !  Donnerwetter!  That  Gustav 
Wiskotten !  There's  a  born  leader !  Hardly  had  we  laid 
hands  on  the  new  piece  of  land  than  his  plans  were  all 
completed.  Everything  figured  out  on  paper  to  the  last 
brick  and  stone !  Everything,  plans,  specifications,  esti- 
mates of  costs.  To-day  the  laborers  began  excavating. 
That's  life  for  you.  And  every  Wiskotten  at  his  post. 
Those  are  great  boys ;  even  that  sly  fox,  August,  always 
knows  his  own  mind." 

"August?" 

"Yes,  August.     Why?" 

"  Oh,  I Here's  your  paper,  father." 

The  old  foreman  spread  the  sheet  under  the  lamp  and 
bent  his  head  over  the  small  print.  Anna  sat  opposite 
him  at  the  other  side  of  the  table  and  stole  quick  glances 
at  him  over  her  fancywork.  The  lamp  hissed  softly, 
the  canary  cheeped  in  a  dream.  It  was  very  quiet. 

"  You're  not  talking  to-night,  child." 

"I  did  not  want  to  disturb  you." 

"  Ach,  the  stupid  paper  won't  run  away.  Has  any- 
thing happened  to  annoy  you?  " 

"Why  should  there?" 

"  Don't  try  to  put  me  off.  You  are  not  yourself  to- 
night ;  you've  lost  your  tongue.  You,  of  all  people !  The 
pastor  was  here.  Did  he  preach  you  a  sermon  on  your 
sins?" 

"  Ach!    Please  don't  say  anything  about  him !  " 

"  Yes,  but  I  will.  With  all  due  respect  for  the  pastor, 
he  is  a  fine  man.  The  parish  may  well  be  proud  of  him. 
He  would  give  his  last  penny  to  the  sick  and  the  poor. 
He  is  like  a  father  to  them,  but  it  is  also  his  way  to  play 
the  father  in  other  houses  and  to  offer  unsolicited  advice 
in  the  most  intimate  family  matters,  as  if  there  were  no 
head  of  the  family.  I  won't  stand  for  that.  I'm  the 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  65 

father  here.    Now,  out  with  it.     Did  he  take  you  to  task 
seriously?  " 

The  young  girl  looked  down  at  the   fancywork  that 
had  made  little  progress  that  evening. 
"He  did  not  really  ask  me  in  earnest." 

"  Well,  what  in  the  world  was  it  all  about?  " 

"  Father !  " 

"  Sapperlot,  girl,"  cried  the  astonished  old  man,  for 
she  had  thrown  herself  on  his  neck  on  the  verge  of  tears. 
He  held  her  fast  and  stroked  her  hair,  trying  to  raise  the 
face  she  had  buried  in  his  coat.  "  Steady,  steady,  what's 
the  matter?" 

"  Father,  tell  me— I  don't  have  to— I  don't  have  to " 

"What,  child?" 

"  Marry  Herr  August." 

The  father's  grasp  relaxed  so  suddenly  that  she  almost 
fell.  He  threw  himself  back  in  his  chair  and  laughed  long 
and  heartily,  till  the  room  rang.  Anna  looked  up  in 
sulky  surprise.  Then  she  understood  and  joined  him. 

"Who  invented  this  pretty  tale?  It's  really  not 
bad." 

"  The  pastor  came  prepared  to  ask  me,  in  a  roundabout 
way,  but  he  came  out  with  it  inadvertently." 

"  Impossible !  "  said  Kolsch. 

"Why  impossible,  Father?  We're  not  suited  to  each 
other,  though,  are  we?  Herr  August  must  have  a  gentle, 
well-born  wife,  who  will  always  agree  with  him,  as  is 
proper  with  pious  people.  While  I — if  ever  I  marry,  I 
want  to  look  after  my  husband  without  having  him  say 
anything  about  the  way  in  which  I  shall  do  things.  He 
must  always  be  pleased  with  the  way  I  manage.  Like  you, 
Father!  Ach,  what  rubbish  I'm  talking." 

Kolsch  stood  up  and  took  the  girl's  head  between  his 
broad  palms,  trying  to  read  her  clear  eyes. 


66  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

"  Child,"  he  said,  "  a  proposal  from  the  Wiskottens ! 
Such  a  thing  comes  once  in  a  lifetime." 

"  Oh,  Father,"  she  answered,  "  the  Wiskottens  are  not 
so  rare  as  all  that ;  there  are  five  of  them  to  be  had." 

"  You  little  monkey !  Do  you  expect  the  whole  crew  to 
fight  over  you?"  He  stroked  her  cheek  lovingly.  Then 
they  sat  down  and  began  to  talk  of  their  Ernst  in  Diissel- 
dorf. 

"  If  the  boy  paints  as  little  as  he  writes,  he'll  not  go 
far,"  said  his  father. 

"  I  do  believe  he's  working  terribly  hard  now.  He  for- 
got to  send  home  his  wash  again  this  week." 

"  A  promising  young  loafer,"  growled  the  old  man,  "  if 
only  he  does  not  turn  out  to  be  one  of  those  depraved, 
dissolute  geniuses." 

"  Now,  Father,  you  don't  believe  anything  like  that. 
Only  he  finds  everything  so  easy  to  do  and  then  he  lets 
things  slide.  I'll  have  to  go  to  Diisseldorf  again  and  make 
him  see  things  in  the  right  light.  He's  always  thoroughly 
ashamed  of  himself  when  he  sees  me." 

Her  father  nodded.  He  understood  why  his  vagabond 
of  a  boy  was  filled  with  shame  and  embarrassment  when 
this  serene,  chaste  young  sister  came  upon  him  in  the 
midst  of  his  careless  companions. 

"  Very  well,  go,"  he  said,  "  but  don't  be  too  easy  with 
him." 

Then  they  said  good  night,  but  old  Kolsch  found  it 
hard  to  fall  asleep.  He  had  been  more  deeply  stirred  up 
by  this  offer  than  he  had  cared  to  show  Anna.  If  only 
August  persisted.  What  was  it  that  Herr  Gustav  had 
called  him.  "  Hagen,  Hagen  the  loyal,  faithful  unto 
death."  With  a  deep  sigh,  he  finally  fell  asleep. 

When  he  awoke  the  thoughts  of  the  past  night  returned. 
At  breakfast  he  was  very  thoughtful  and  cast  many 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  67 

searching  glances  at  his  child.  Today  the  sight  of  her 
pained  him.  He  was  torn  between  conflicting  duties.  Sud- 
denly he  came  to  a  decision,  and  arose.  He  would  go  to 
the  factory  and  speak  to  Gustav  Wiskotten  at  once. 

Gustav  had  been  there  since  six  that  morning.  When 
the  first  pick  and  shovel  had  begun  to  clear  a  way  in  the 
new  land  and  the  first  wheelbarrow  came  creaking  down 
the  temporary  board  paths,  he  had  come  out  and  stood 
beside  his  old  friend,  the  black  Wupper.  To  him  it  was 
no  sullen,  dirty  river  that  flowed  so  strongly  over  the  dam, 
but  a  pulsing,  vital  artery  of  his  beloved  dye  works.  It 
had  been  the  friendly  playmate  of  his  childhood,  the 
fellow  worker  of  his  youth  and  manhood,  and  he  nodded 
to  it  as  if  greeting  a  living  friend.  Then  he  went  out 
with  the  foreman  of  the  excavating  gang  to  look  over 
the  ground;  talked  with  the  master  builder  about  the 
necessary  concrete  work;  inspected  the  lime,  sand,  and 
gravel  that  were  being  hauled  in,  and  approved  the  first 
consignment  of  brick.  Between  whiles  he  went  through 
the  factory  and  dye  works  on  his  customary  rounds; 
talked  with  the  heads  of  the  various  departments  about 
the  most  urgent  orders,  and  tested  colors  at  the  dye 
vats  with  his  brother  Fritz.  At  mail  time  he  appeared 
at  the  private  office,  went  through  his  correspondence  with 
August;  assured  himself,  with  a  sharp  glance,  that  Paul 
was  not  dreaming  over  his  accounts ;  heard  William's  re- 
port of  the  English  trade,  and  greeted  his  mother  as  he 
passed  her  in  the  midst  of  her  girls  in  the  winding  room. 
At  the  coffee  pause,  he  allowed  himself  the  recreation  of 
visiting  his  beloved  new  machine.  All  was  motion,  activ- 
ity, in  the  spotless  room.  The  belts  whirred  and  the  pis- 
tons seemed  to  plunge  forward  at  him. 

He  laughed  happily,  saying :  "  Patience,  patience,  you 
shall  sweat  soon !  " 


68  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

Kolsch  had  come  in  upon  him  at  least  a  dozen  times  in 
the  course  of  the  morning,  always  finding  him  so  busy  that 
he  did  not  care  to  approach  him  with  any  outside  matter. 
But  when  the  noon  signal  sounded  the  roar  became  a 
rumble,  then  ceased  altogether,  he  approached  his  young 
master.  Gustav  turned  as  he  heard  the  familiar  footsteps 
behind  him. 

"  Still  here,  Kolsch?  Anna  will  let  the  soup  burn  if 
you  don't  hurry." 

"  I  would  like  to  speak  with  you,  if  you  have  time." 

"  Of  course.  Just  look  at  the  excavations,  Kolsch ! 
That  dirt  is  a  sight  for  sore  eyes." 

"  Herr  Wiskotten,  yesterday  afternoon,  when  I  was 
here  at  work,  Pastor  Schirrmacher  called  upon  my  Anna." 

"Well,  well,  surely  not  as  a  suitor!  Such  an  old 
bachelor  as  he !  " 

"  No,  he  came  at  the  request  of  a  suitor." 

"  What's  that  you  say?  For  Anna?  Kolsch,  look  out! 
There'll  be  plenty  of  bees  buzzing  around  that  honey. 
Don't  let  your  prize  girl  go  too  cheap." 

"  Just  now  the  price  offered  seems  rather  to  be  a  little 
too  much." 

"  Nonsense,  I  won't  even  dispute  that  with  you,  but  I 
will  say  that  it's  too  bad  I  myself  am  married  and  out  of 
the  running,"  he  said,  jokingly. 

"  Herr  Wiskotten,  the  pastor  came  this  time  merely  to 
sound  the  girl,  but  he  named  a  name — that " 

"  You  can  surely  tell  it  to  me,  Kolsch." 

The  foreman  stood  up  very  straight  and  faced  his 
young  master.  "  He  spoke  of  Herr  August." 

Gustav  drew  in  a  deep  breath.  There  was  a  long  silence 
between  the  two  men. 

Then  the  foreman  said  with  a  trace  of  bitterness,  "I 
had  rather  see  you  laugh,  Herr  Wiskotten." 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  69 

"Kolsch!  Why  in  the  devil  should  I  laugh  at  you? 
Kolsch,  man,  if  you  did  not  have  such  a  long,  gray  beard, 
I'd  call  you  a  fool.  Who  are  the  Wiskottens  and  who  is 
Herr  Kolsch — one  and  the  same,  they  fit  like  hand  and 
glove.  When  I  said  it's  a  shame  I'm  already  married,  I 
was  more  than  half  in  earnest.  Whoever  gets  your  Anna, 
by  all  that's  holy,  he'll  get  a  prize.  Now  perhaps  you 
understand  why  I  did  not  answer  at  once,  you  stupid  old 
fellow." 

Kolsch  just  put  out  his  hand  and  said  simply,  "For- 
give me,  Herr  Wiskotten." 

"  It  was  because  you  named  August,  and  by  a  go- 
between  at  that !  A  fellow  with  a  clear  conscience,  a  clear 
record,  needs  no  go-between.  Kolsch,  we're  old  friends 
and  can  speak  plainly.  As  a  business  man,  our  August 
is  more  than  satisfactory.  But,  as  a  man,  a  bit  of  hypo- 
crite, a  fellow  of  secret  schemes  and  subterfuges.  I  would 
not  want  to  marry  him." 

"  Neither  does  Anna." 

"What?"  cried  Gustav,  in  astonishment.  "Well, 
what's  wrong  then?  Doesn't  that  put  everything  right? 
Why  give  me  a  bad  quarter  of  an  hour  over  the  fellow 
and  his  unsuccessful  love  affairs?" 

"  Herr  Gustav,  I  could  not  dismiss  the  matter  so 
simply.  I  have  been  so  close  to  the  Wiskottens  that  I 
don't  want  this — this  business  with  Anna  to  change  things. 
The  factory  is  a  part  of  my  very  life." 

"  Kolsch,  you  are  right.  I  could  not  conceive  of  my- 
self working  on  here  without  you.  You  must  feel  no 
constraint  here.  I'll  take  the  matter  up  at  once.  August 
shall  either  court  the  girl  in  the  open  and  take  her  *  yes ' 
or  '  no '  like  a  man,  or  else  give  up  the  idea  altogether. 
Does  that  suit  you?  " 

"  Yes." 


70  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

"  Good  day,  Herr  Kolsch." 

"  Good  day,  Herr  Wiskotten." 

Gustav  went  directly  to  his  parents'  house,  without 
stopping  to  leave  word  at  his  own.  He  found  the  whole 
family  at  dinner. 

"Has  something  happened?"  asked  his  mother,  sur- 
prised to  see  him  at  this  hour. 

"  No,  I  only  wanted  to  see  August." 

"  August  ?    What's  the  matter  ?  " 

"  I'll  wait  till  you're  through.  Then  we'll  go  to  your 
room." 

"  We've  never  before  had  any  secrets  here,"  exclaimed 
Frau  Wiskotten.  "  God  be  thanked,  we  have  nothing  to 
hide." 

"  You  can  ask  August,  later,  what  I  wanted  with 
him." 

•"  Worse  and  worse !  Have  you  anything  on  your 
conscience,  August?  " 

"  Ach,  Mother,  Gustav  is  playing  to  the  gallery  again. 
I  have  nothing  to  discuss  with  him.  I  don't  need  to  go 
to  my  room." 

"  Then  you  won't  come  with  me,  August?  " 

"  You  act  like  a  conspirator." 

"  I'm  on  the  trail  of  something  like  a  conspiracy !  If 
you  think  the  matter  can  be  discussed  here,  I'm  willing. 
Well,  then,  did  you  send  Pastor  Schirrmacher  to  Anna 
Kolsch  yesterday  afternoon?  " 

"  Is  that  any  of  your  business  ?  " 

"  Yes,  indeed.    Her  father  is  my  foreman." 

"  Did  I  ask  any  questions  when  you  courted  Emily 
Scharwachter?  " 

"  You're  suspiciously  quick  to  defend  yourself.  As  for 
myself  and  Emily,  you  would  do  well  not  to  discuss  that 
chapter  of  the  Wiskotten  family  history,  as  you  were  far 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  71 

too  young  and  silly  to  realize  what  it  all  meant  at  the 
time." 

"  Your  tone  is  insulting,"  cried  August,  his  face  pale 
with  suppressed  rage. 

"  If  you're  trying  to  make  trouble,  go  home  and  do  it, 
instead  of  disturbing  us  here  at  dinner,"  said  Frau  Wis- 
kotten,  angrily. 

The  peace-loving  father  cried,  "  Gustav,  Gustav !  "  ap- 
pealingly. 

"  Didn't  I  ask  him  to  come  into  the  other  room  witK 
me?" 

"  There's  no  need  for  us  to  have  any  secret  confer- 
ence." 

"  Well,  if  you're  satisfied,  I  am.  Tell  me,  do  you  want 
to  marry  Anna  Kolsch?  " 

"  I  don't  know." 

"  You  don't  know  ?  Then  why  did  you  send  the  pastor 
to  sound  her  as  to  her  feelings  for  you?  " 

"  That's  my  affair." 

"  No,  indeed,  August,"  broke  in  his  mother,  in  no  un- 
certain tones.  "  Gustav  is  right.  You  are  no  longer 
the  only  one  concerned.  One  must  know  his  own  mind 
when  he  approaches  a  respectable  girl." 

"  Now  listen,  August,  we  brothers  should  not  quarrel," 
said  Gustav,  "  but  why  did  you  not  go  to  Anna  yourself? 
Why  this  go-between?" 

"  Because  I  did  not  wish  to  commit  myself  so  soon.  I 
wanted  to  see  if  the  idea  pleased  the  girl  enough  so  that 
she  would  be  willing  to  accept  my  conditions." 

"  Good  heavens !    Conditions  ?  " 

"  Yes,  indeed,  conditions." 

"  May  we  hear  them  ?  " 

"  That  old  Kolsch  retires.  I  cannot  have  a  father-in- 
law  working  under  me." 


72  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

"  Are  you  crazy  ? "  cried  Gustav,  hardly  master  of 
himself. 

"  No,  I  am  not  crazy.  But  discipline  must  be  main- 
tained in  the  business." 

"  But  what  if  he  has  not  saved  enough  to  retire  in  com- 
fort? Oh,  you  pillar  of  the  church!  It's  enough  to  make 
one  turn  atheist." 

"  Don't  speak  so  blasphemously,"  cried  his  mother, 
angrily. 

William  Wiskotten,  the  "Englishman,"  stroked  his 
silky  side  whiskers  nervously,  then  he  rapped  on  the 
table  with  his  heavy  seal  ring. 

"  A  little  more  politeness  would  not  hurt  either  of  you. 
It's  really  impossible  to  bring  well  brought  up  visitors 
here." 

"  And  those  two  call  themselves  '  officers  and  gentle- 
men,' "  growled  Fritz,  scornfully. 

Paul,  possessed  of  more  sympathy  or  self-control, 
remained  silent.  Ewald  was  visibly  agitated,  but 
dared  not  speak  when  his  eldest  brother  was  visibly 
enraged. 

"You  all  stand  by  him,  do  you?  You'll  let  the  ridicu- 
lous love  affairs  of  our  worthy  August  come  before  the 
good  of  the  factory  ?  Hasn't  one  of  you  a  grain  of  sense  ? 
Heaven  be  thanked  that  Anna  Kolsch  has  plenty  of  it, 
and  will  have  nothing  to  do  with  our  pious  August.  So 
she  is  no  longer  in  the  discussion.  We  are  speaking  now 
of  Albert  Kolsch,  and  so  long  as  he  can  crawl  about  on 
two  legs  he  remains  foreman  of  the  Wiskotten  works. 
He's  worth  half  the  whole  business  to  me,  and  I  myself 
am  the  other  half,  if  you  want  to  know  it.  Do  you 
understand?  " 

"  You're  not  the  only  one  to  have  a  voice  in  the  mat- 
ter." 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  78 

"  Are  you  the  only  partner  registered,  or  are  our  names 
there  too?  " 

"  Do  you  run  the  whole  business  ?  Don't  we  do  any- 
thing? " 

"  Yes,  yes,  you  do  your  share,  but  you  have  your  whole 
lives  before  you,  other  interests.  But  I — mine?  "  He 
lapsed  into  gloomy  silence,  staring  into  space.  Then  he 
pulled  himself  together  and  turned  to  August.  "  Will 
you  or  will  you  not  drop  your  impossible  conditions?  " 

"  No,  I  know  what  is  due  to  my  position.  There  can  be 
no  peace  otherwise." 

"  Well  and  good,  then  it  remains  for  me  to  tell  you  that 
Anna  Kolsch  will  laugh  you  to  scorn  unless  her  father 
himself  urges  your  suit.  As  for  me,  I  shall  see  to  it  that 
all  Barmen  laughs  too." 

August  bit  his  lips,  sullenly.  For  a  moment  no 
one  spoke.  Then  the  excited  voice  of  the  youngest 
broke  in. 

"  And  I'll  not  stand  any  more  either.  I  won't  be  forced 
into  the  ministry.  I  say  I  won't." 

"What  won't  the  boy  do?"  asked  the  deaf  old  lady, 
whose  attention  had  been  given  to  the  elder  boys. 

"  Won't  be  a  minister !    Thunder  and  lightning !  " 

His  mother's  heavy  hand  fell  suddenly  on  the  tall  lad's 
cheek  with  a  resounding  smack.  Paul  Wiskotten  grasped 
the  angry  lad  by  the  arm  and  shoved  him  out  the  door, 
while  the  others  burst  into  peals  of  laughter  at  this  sud- 
den revolt  and  punishment. 

"  You  all  need  a  taste  of  the  same  medicine,"  growled 
the  militant  old  woman. 

"  Well,  August,"  laughed  Gustav,  "  it's  high  time  for 
us  to  shake  and  make  up.  Mother's  on  the  rampage  now. 
Come,  we  have  something  better  to  do  than  quarrel  over 
a  slip  of  a  girl  that  will  have  none  of  you.  Brace  up ! 


74  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

She's  not  the  girl  for  you,  anyway ;  she's  far  too  merry, 
and  her  worldly  brother,  Ernst,  would  have  been  a  con- 
stant source  of  embarrassment  to  you.  Don't  you  see 
it  now?  At  last!  Heaven  be  praised!  That  was  a  hard 
job,  but  you'll  thank  me  for  not  letting  you  trade  Albert 
Kolsch  for  Anna.  DonnerTciel!  I've  not  had  any  dinner 
yet." 

"  Oh,  my !  "  cried  his  mother.     "  Poor  Emily  !  " 

With  a  laughing  farewell,  he  clattered  down  the  stairs 
and  hurried  home.  He  found  the  house  unusually  silent. 
The  nursery  was  empty,  the  big  dining  table  showed  a 
single  place  set.  He  rang  for  the  maid. 

"Where's  my  wife?" 

"  Frau  Wiskotten  has  gone  up  to  her  room." 

"And  the  children?" 

"  Out  playing." 

"  Please  tell  my  wife  I  am  here." 

A  few  minutes  passed  before  Emily  appeared.  She 
wore  an  old  morning  dress  that  showed  signs  of  wear. 

"  Why  did  you  send  for  me  ?  " 

"Why?  Because  I  am  here!  Yes,  yes,  I'm  late.  I 
beg  your  pardon.  When  a  man  is  greeted  by  such  a  long 
face  his  apologies  stick  in  his  throat." 

"  Don't  take  the  trouble  then.  I  have  long  known 
that  your  mother  comes  first." 

"  My  mother  is  an  old  woman,  a  woman  who  has  held 
together  our  whole  unruly  family.  It  would  not  hurt 
you  to  speak  of  her  with  a  little  more  respect." 

"  Ach,  it's  always  my  fault  when  we  disagree.  You 
twist  everything  I  say  so  as  to  vent  your  own  bad  humor 
on  me." 

"  I  twist  nothing  and  I'm  not  in  a  bad  humor,  only 
hungry;  but  if  you  keep  on,  the  bad  humor'll  come  and 
the  appetite  go." 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  75 

"  Naturally,  when  you've  been  put  in  a  temper  by  your 
mother,  I'm  good  enough  to  take  it  out  on.  You'll  have 
to  wait  now  until  Minna  fries  a  beefsteak.  It's  impossible 
to  keep  things  warm  for  hours." 

"  Don't  exaggerate  so.  You  might  have  dressed  for  the 
afternoon  too.  I  see  enough  shabby  clothes  in  the 
factory." 

"  I'm  no  princess,  and  besides,  I  hardly  know  any  longer 
what  is  the  right  thing  to  do.  If  I  put  on  a  good  dress, 
I  get  a  sermon  from  your  mother.  '  We  did  not  dress  so 
extravagantly  in  this  valley  when  I  was  young.  A  good 
Christian  has  no  right  to  look  so  worldly,'  and  so 
on.  Then  if  I  try  to  be  frugal  and  wear  something 
old  about  the  house,  you  come  in  and  make  me  feel  like 
a  slattern." 

"  Emily,"  said  Gustav,  quietly,  **  I  must  leave  that  to 
your  judgment,  after  all.  But  to  my  mind,  a  wife  should 
take  pleasure  in  being  as  neat  and  pretty  as  possible  in 
the  few  hours  her  husband  is  at  home  and  can  throw  off 
his  business  cares." 

"  But  you  never  are  at  home.  Should  I  dress  up  for 
my  own  amusement  and  sit  on  the  parlor  sofa,  like  a 
visitor  ?  " 

"  If  I  had  not  had  something  very  important  to  attend 
to,  I  should  not  have  kept  you  waiting." 

"  Oh,  yes,  I'm  always  the  unimportant  one ;  your  mother 
must  not  be  kept  waiting.  I'm  tired  of  dancing  to  the 
same  tune  forever." 

"  I  had  to  see  August." 

"  Indeed !  Wasn't  he  at  the  factory  until  twelve,  and 
won't  you  find  him  there  again  at  two-thirty?  The  fac- 
tory could  hardly  go  bankrupt  in  the  interval." 

"  It  was  not  about  the  factory.  It  was  a  private  af- 
fair." 


76  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

"  Then  I  suppose  you  cannot  tell  your  own  wife  about 
it?  " 

"  Great  heavens !  My  patience  is  at  an  end.  August 
wanted  to  marry  Anna  Kolsch.  Now  you  know  all  about 
it." 

"What?  Who?  Does  that  foolish  person  expect  to 
catch  August?  " 

"  Not  in  the  least ;  August  is  the  one  who's  trying  to 
catch  her." 

"  Oho !  That's  what  she  wants  to  make  you  believe,  if 
it's  not  too  late  already !  " 

"  Emily !  "  cried  Gustav,  striking  the  table.  "  Herr 
Gott!  you  women  are  vultures.  Always  ready  to  strip 
each  other  of  the  last  shred  of  decency.  Instead  of  show- 
ing any  sympathy  or  mercy,  you  show  the  most  despicable 
qualities.  It  is  revolting !  " 

"  You'll  be  holding  the  stupid  thing  up  to  me  as  a 
model  next!  Well,  she  has  her  August.  I  wish  her  luck 
with  him." 

"  No,  she  has  not  got  August.  She  won't  take  him  for. 
a  gift.  When  she  marries  it  will  be  for  love  and  to  enjoy 
life  with  her  husband,  not  to  spend  it  singing  psalms. 
That  is  what  I  went  to  tell  August.  That's  why  I  was 
at  mother's.  That's  why  I  sacrificed  my  own  dinner  hour, 
so  that  the  factory  might  not  suffer.  There,  now,  is  it  all 
clear?" 

"  You  don't  need  to  shout  at  me  so,"  sobbed  Emily. 

"  Shout?    Did  I  begin  this  wrangle?  " 

"Did  I?  Did  I?"  she  sobbed,  stormily.  "  I— I— 
Anna  Kolsch  is  not  so  stupid  after  all  as  to  want  a 
Wiskotten.  She  knows — and  I — wish — ach,  Gott! — 
I  wish » 

"Emily!" 

But  she  ran  out,  still  sobbing,  and  he  leaned  heavily 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  77 

against  the  window  overcome  by  a  sudden,  heavy  weari- 
ness. Mocking  visions  of  peace  and  love  jeered  at  himt 
The  maid  entered  with  the  beefsteak  and  he  gulped  it 
down  hastily,  without  relish.  Ten  minutes  later  he  was 
back  at  the  factory.  He  came  upon  his  children  playing 
near  the  great  heap  of  ashes  that  marked  old  Christian's 
domain.  The  boy,  almost  as  black  as  the  old  stoker,  ran 
to  his  father,  crying: 

"  Papa,  Papa,  I  have  something  to  tell  you." 

"  Something  silly,  I'll  wager." 

"  Christian  said  it,  so  it  is  not  silly." 

"  Well,  out  with  it." 

"  I  know  what  I  want  to  be — a  stoker !  " 

"Stoker— and  why?" 

"  Christian  says  there's  nothing  more  important.  If 
he  says  so,  the  whole  factory  must  stand  still.  All  he 
has  to  do  is  to  stop  shoveling  in  coal.  He  holds  the  fac- 
tory in  his  hands." 

The  zebra  face  of  old  Christian  popped  out  the  fire- 
room  door  "  The  little  rascal  snaps  the  words  out  of 
one's  mouth,"  he  said,  proudly,  as  if  the  boy  were  his 
own.  Then  he  spat  on  his  hands  vigorously,  and  fell  to 
shoveling.  Gustav  Wiskotten  nodded  to  him  pleasantly, 
and  left  the  bewildered  children  to  discuss  the  question 
further  between  themselves. 

"  After  all,"  he  thought,  "  a  stoker  may  have  the  best 
of  it — he  has  few  responsibilities." 

The  black  Wupper,  his  familiar  spirit,  gurgled,  "  To 
work,  to  work  !  " 

"  Yes,"  thought  he,  "  at  its  source  this  old  river  is 
crystal  clear  and  merry  enough  to  drive  anything;  it  has 
to  serve  factories  and  power  plants — it  is  no  longer  free. 
A  workaday  stream  cannot  hope  to  be  a  shimmering, 
beautiful  Rhine." 


78  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

He  clenched  his  fists  and  strode  toward  the  new  build- 
ing site  with  his  head  held  high.  Near  the  dye  works 
he  spied  Kolsch  and  cried  out  cheerily,  "  It's  all  right, 
now." 


CHAPTER  V 

THE  valley  was  filled  with  a  spirit  of  unrest  and  men 
gathered  at  the  inns  to  talk,  drinking  more  heavily  than 
was  their  custom.  Sullen,  flushed  faces  were  to  be  seen 
among  the  workmen,  and  at  the  factory  men  were  con- 
tinually gathering  in  small  groups,  gesticulating,  argu- 
ing, until  dispersed  by  their  foremen.  They  knew  that 
large  orders  had  come  in  from  London,  Paris,  and  even 
the  great  American  cities,  so  that  the  factory  should 
make  large  profits — and  they  wanted  their  share.  Finally 
demands  were  formulated;  higher  wages,  shorter  hours, 
higher  pay  for  overtime.  Strikers  had  already  walked 
out  in  some  of  the  Elberfeld  factories,  and  others  were 
scheduled  to  follow  in  Barmen.  Discontent  and  discord 
swept  like  a  cold  wind  through  the  valley. 

Ewald  Wiskotten  came  and  went  apathetically  since 
the  day  when  his  mother's  heavy  hand  had  ignominiously 
checked  his  impetuous  flow  of  words.  But  he  felt  himself 
growing  daily  more  sullen  and  nervous,  consumed  by  an 
inner  fire.  The  incipient  rebellion  of  the  valley  met 
with  a  ready  response  on  his  part,  he  felt  a  certain  sym- 
pathy with  all  rebels.  There,  beyond  the  mountains,  lay 
the  blessed  Land  of  Promise,  the  romantic  Rhine  valley. 
There  lay  Diisseldorf,  the  city  of  all  the  arts.  There 
Freedom  smiled  and  beckoned. 

It  was  midday,  and  groups  of  laborers  were  forming 

in  the  old  market  place,  the  heart  of  Barmen.    They  were 

quiet  and  orderly  enough,  ominous  only  because  of  their 

numbers.     Ewald  noticed   a   young  girl   threading  Her 

79 


80  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

way  through  the  crowd  without  any  sign  of  fear.  They 
flung  jesting  remarks  at  her,  but  made  way  with  mock 
ceremony  to  give  her  free  passage.  Paying  no  atten- 
tion to  their  words,  she  took  advantage  of  the  open- 
ing and  went  quietly  forward.  Ewald  saw  that  it 
was  Anna  Kolsch  and  hastened  forward  to  her  assist- 
ance. This  gave  the  crowd  new  food  for  laughter  and 
comment. 

"  But,  Anna,"  said  he,  "  a  well-bred  young  lady  is  not 
seen  on  the  streets  at  a  time  like  this." 

"  Nobody  would  hurt  me,"  she  answered. 

"  But  what  if  one  of  them  had  laid  hold  of  you?  "  he 
protested. 

"  That  wouldn't  have  killed  me,  and  he'd  have  gotten  a 
nice  box  on  the  ears." 

"  But  that  would  not  have  been  ladylike." 

She  quickly  withdrew  her  arm.  "Are  you  afraid  of 
them?" 

"  Bah ! "  he  cried,  "  I  only  wish  one  of  them  had  laid 
a  hand  on  you.  Then  you'd  have  seen  something  happen." 

"  Would  you  have  thrashed  him?  " 

"  Thrashed  him !  And  given  you  a  little  punishment 
into  the  bargain  afterward." 

"  Me ?  "     Then  she  put  out  her  hand  impulsively. 

"  Thank  goodness  you're  still  the  same  dear,  frank  boy." 

"  Why  so— still?    Did  you  think  I  had  changed?  " 

"  No-o !  I  suppose  you've  had  so  much  studying  to  do 
that  you  have  had  no  time  to  come  and — inquire  about 
Ernst." 

"Is  he  getting  on  all  right?"  asked  the  boy  in  some 
embarrassment. 

"  Yes,  he  is,"  she  replied  dryly.  "  I'm  just  on  my  way 
to  pay  him  a  visit  in  Diisseldorf  and  find  out  the  latest 
news  concerning  him." 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  81 

"  Remember  me  to  him.  Don't  forget !  And  tell  him 
I'll  be  there  with  him  soon."  He  said  this  so  emphatically 
and  with  such  agitation  that  she  looked  up  in  amazement. 
His  tall  body  was  tense  and  the  boyish  face,  so  dear  to 
her,  wore  a  strange,  set  expression. 

"  You're  going  away  ?  "  she  asked  eagerly.  "  Going 
to  Diisseldorf — and  not  coming  back?  " 

"  Never  of  my  own  free  will !  Oh,  girl,  how  can  anyone 
live  beside  this  black  Wupper  among  these  dull-spirited 
people,  who  have  not  the  slightest  understanding  of  cul- 
ture, of  art?" 

"  We  live  here,  nevertheless,"  she  said,  shortly,  and 
hastened  her  steps. 

"  You,  Anna,  you  are  the  one  bright  spot  in  my  life 
here.  How  I  can  remember  romping  with  you  in  your  gar- 
den, or  sitting  in  your  kitchen  on  winter  days  while  your 
mother  made  us  apple  dumplings.  '  Apples  in  their  night- 
ies,' she  used  to  call  them.  How  greedily  we  watched  her. 
That's  ages  ago !  " 

"  No,  only  a  very  few  years.  Don't  be  silly  and  talk 
as  if  you  were  an  old  man." 

"You're  just  as  bad,"  he  said,  angrily,  "  talking  as  if 
I  were  still  a  schoolboy." 

"  Well,"  she  jeered,  "  it's  easy  to  see  they  let  you  out 
of  school  too  soon." 

"  It's  easy  to  see  also,"  in  a  tone  of  superiority,  "  that 
you  are  an  out-and-out  dyed-in-the-wool  Wupper  valley 
girl — like  all  the  rest." 

"And  you?  You  were  born  in  heaven,  I  suppose.  If 
you'd  scour  yourself  with  sand  you  could  not  rub  off  all 
the  Wupper  water  that  is  in  you.  Why,  you  were  bap- 
tized in  it  and  will  smell  of  it  all  your  life." 

"  We'll  see  about  that,"  he  said,  disdainfully.  "  If  my 
dear  family  thinks  me  a  mere  puppet,  it  is  greatly  mis-? 


82  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

taken.  Let  August  change  his  plans  and  become  the 
minister  they're  so  anxious  to  have.  I'm  going  to  be  an 
artist." 

"Don't  do  it,  Ewald,"  she  cried,  now  really  con- 
cerned. 

"  I'm  going  to  be  a  great  portrait  painter." 

"  Ernst  says  it  takes  more  than  the  wish." 

"Ernst!  He  and  his  wisdom  can  go  to  the  dickens. 
He  doesn't  paint,  he  loafs." 

"  But  he  has  real  talent." 

"  And  I'll  prove  to  you  that  I  have  it  too,  no  matter 
how  you  try  to  stop  me.  I  have  all  the  Wiskotten  stub- 
bornness." 

"  Yes,  you  have  that." 

They  had  reached  the  railway  station  and  she  gave 
him  her  hand  in  farewell  without  looking  up,  for  she  felt 
some  childish  moisture  rising  to  her  eyes.  Her  maiden 
heart  suddenly  realized  that  these  were  the  last  of  her 
childhood's  easy  tears.  Her  companion  was  no  longer 
the  merry  playfellow  of  the  past. 

"  Adieu,  Ewald." 

"  Adieu,  Anna." 

His  eyes  followed  the  slender,  youthful  figure  as  she 
walked  gracefully  down  the  long  waiting  room.  Then  she 
turned  with  a  forced  smile  for  a  final  "  Good  luck."  All 
his  stern  new  manhood  melted  away,  he  fairly  bolted  from 
the  place,  filled  with  a  sudden  unreasoning  desire  to  cry 
like  a  little  boy. 


That  afternoon  Gustav  Wiskotten  sat  in  his  private 
office  with  August,  reading  the  English  mail. 

"  Our  William  certainly  knows  his  business.  We'll  have 
to  forgive  him  his  English  whiskers  and  clothes.  He  has 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  83 

those  fellows  over  there  eating  out  of  his  hand,  and  my 
hands  are  getting  callous  just  from  opening  all  the 
orders  he  sends  in.  Now  we'll  make  the  factory  hum  with 
overtime  and  night  shifts." 

"  If  only  our  men  stand  by." 

"What?  You  don't  think  our  workmen  are  going  to 
strike  with  the  others?  Not  they,  my  boy;  you  don't 
know  them." 

"  That  sort  of  people  is  always  dissatisfied.  It's  all 
the  same  to  them  if  they  have  to  fish  in  troubled  waters 
to  get  what  they  want." 

"  Then  we  must  see  to  it  that  there  are  no  troubled 
waters — then  they'll  not  begin  to  fish.  So  far,  our  waters 
are  still  clear." 

"  I  only  hope  that  your  *  clear  waters '  are  not  an 
illusion." 

Gustav  rose  and  opened  the  door  to  the  main  offices. 
"  Paul,  give  me  the  pay  roll.  Thanks.  Now  you  may  call 
Fritz  from  the  laboratory." 

By  the  time  his  brother  had  arrived,  he  had  read  over 
and  revised  the  list.  "  Stop  your  writing  a  moment, 
August.  Sit  down,  Fritz.  Paul,  you  may  remain  also.  I 
shall  be  as  brief  as  possible.  We  are  having  a  greater 
period  of  activity  in  the  textile  branches  at  present  than 
in  any  previous  years.  And  judging  by  indications,  it 
may  be  expected  to  increase  still  more.  Meanwhile  the 
building  of  the  new  dye  works  must  be  pressed;  we  must 
be  at  work  day  and  night.  I'll  give  up  my  evenings  at 
the  tavern,  August  will  have  the  goodness  to  let  the  mis- 
sions take  care  of  themselves,  Fritz  will  give  his  horse  a 
rest,  and  Paul  forget  his  verse  making.  In  short,  each 
of  us  must  sacrifice  his  private  pleasure  for  the  general 
good  and  prosperity.  Our  workmen  must  do  the  same, 
one  and  all.  That  they  may  be  equally  aware  that  their 


84  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

efforts  are  for  the  general  good,  I  propose  to  raise  their 
wages,  both  regular  and  overtime,  ten  per  cent.  Do  you, 
agree?" 

"  Ten  per  cent,  at  one  jump?  "  said  August,  dubiously. 

"Yes,  my  boy,  we  don't  hang  up  old  stockings  at 
Christmas  time!" 

"  Couldn't  we  wait  until  they  make  their  demands  ? 
Perhaps  they  would  not  ask  so  much  as  that." 

"Demands?  What  are  you  talking  about?  Who  has 
any  right  to  make  demands?  I'd  be  a  poor  manager  if  I 
let  my  people  go  hungry  enough  so  that  they  had  reason 
to  make  demands  !  I'm  not  merely  the  man  who  gives  them 
work.  I'm  responsible  for  their  welfare.  They  know 
that  and  it  must  remain  so.  If  we  prosper  they  must 
share  our  prosperity,  else  how  in  the  devil  could  we  ask 
them  to  stand  by  when  a  bad  year  comes  ?  We  must  give 
what  we  give  freely  in  order  to  keep  our  workers'  confi- 
dence. Then  there  can  be  no  strikes." 

"  Ten  per  cent. !  "  repeated  August,  shaking  his  head. 

"I  think  you're  forgetting  your  own  church  tithes, 
August.  Don't  they  go  up  as  your  income  increases?  " 

This  brought  a  laugh  from  Fritz  and  Paul ;  even  August 
himself  joined  in  reluctantly. 

"Well  then,  you're  agreed?"  Gustav  looked  inquir- 
ingly at  each  of  them.  "  Very  well,  then,  I'll  sign  the 
new  pay  roll.  There's  my  signature.  Yours  too,  Aug- 
ust, if  you  please.  Thanks.  When  they  finish  work  to- 
day this  shall  be  read  to  them  in  all  the  workrooms.  I'll 
give  Kolsch  orders  to  have  them  remain.  So  now,  to 
arms  for  King  and  Fatherland,  and  may  God  be  with  us !  " 

There  was  a  knock  at  the  door. 

"  Come  in !  " 

Kolsch  stood  on  the  threshold.  "May  I  speak  with 
you,  Herr  Wiskotten?" 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  85 

"Why  such  a  long  face?  Is  the  factory  afire  any- 
where?" 

"  Yes,  in  the  dye  works,  Herr  Wiskotten."  The  fore- 
man entered  and  closed  the  door.  The  Wiskotten  broth- 
ers sprang  to  their  feet  as  one  man. 

"  The  dye  works?    What  do  you  mean?  " 

"  Herr  Fritz  had  scarcely  left  before  Wisczkowski,  the 
Pole,  had  them  stop  the  machines  so  that  he  might 
talk." 

"  Gott  im  Himmel!  "  boomed  Gustav.  "  He  dared  lay 
hands  on  my  machinery !  Go  on,  Kolsch,  go  on." 

"  I  noticed  at  once  that  something  was  wrong  and 
hurried  over  there.  The  Pole  was  insisting  that  the  work- 
ers join  the  strikers  at  once  in  order  to  coerce  the  owners. 
'  Now  was  the  very  best  time.'  This  afternoon  all  the 
dyers  of  Barmen  were  to  walk  out.  Whoever  did  not  go 
with  them  had  no  feeling  of  solidarity,  and  such  a  fellow 
was  a  traitor  and  a  scoundrel." 

"  Of  course  you  discharged  the  fellow  on  the  spot," 
cried  Gustav. 

"  That  very  instant,  Herr  Wiskotten." 

"And  what  then?" 

"  The  dyers  protested  and  demanded  that  he  be  taken 
back  or  they  would  all  go  with  him." 

Gustav's  forehead  grew  purple ;  he  was  fairly  apoplectic 
with  rage. 

"Herr  Wiskotten,  you  must  compose  yourself!"  ex- 
claimed Kolsch.  "  Bring  a  glass  of  water,  Paul." 

Gustav  struck  the  glass  from  his  brother's  hand  and  it 
crashed  against  the  wall.  "  Enough  of  that  foolishness. 
I'm  no  silly,  fainting  woman."  He  paced  up  and  down 
the  room,  pulling  himself  together.  "  I  cannot  believe 
it !  The  dyers,  the  very  ones  who  have  been  with  us  the 
longest ! " 


86  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

"  They  are  bewitched,  Herr  Wiskotten ;  there's  some- 
thing in  the  air  now  that  intoxicates  them  all." 

"  The  dyers,  my  old  dyers !  " 

August  went  toward  the  door  looking  very  pale  and 
resolute,  but  Gustav  barred  his  way.  "  Where  are  you 
going?  " 

"  I  will  appeal  to  their  consciences,  try  to  recall  them 
to  their  better  selves  by  Scriptural  admonition." 

"  If  you  did  that  you'd  make  yourself  ridiculous  and 
lose  your  last  scrap  of  authority  over  them.  No,  my  boy, 
this  is  no  time  for  moral  suasion ;  Biblical  texts  are  not 
needed  now,  but  a  firm,  strong  grasp  of  the  situation. 
I'm  quite  composed  now.  I  thank  you,  August ;  you  meant 
well,  but  I  am  the  one  to  handle  this  affair.  It  would 
be  better  for  the  rest  of  you  to  remain  quietly  here,  so 
as  not  to  appear  too  concerned.  Come  on,  Kolsch.  We 
must  hurry,"  he  said  to  the  foreman,  as  they  went  out. 
"  We  must  keep  the  sedition  from  spreading  into  the  rib- 
bon works  or  the  reel  room." 

"  Don't  worry  about  the  girls  there.  Your  mother 
can  hold  them." 

Deliberately,  and  with  apparent  composure,  Gustav 
crossed  the  factory  yard.  A  few  girls  showed  curious 
faces  at  the  windows,  but  they  drew  back  affrighted  at 
their  usually  genial  master's  stern  looks. 

Christian  stepped  out  of  the  furnace  room  as  they 
passed.  "  Shall  I  go  with  you,  Herr  Gustav?  " 

"  Shut  your  mouth  and  keep  your  furnace  going," 
said  Gustav,  as  he  opened  the  door  of  the  dye  works  and 
entered. 

There  was  a  Sabbath  stillness  in  the  big  room.  No  roar 
of  steam,  no  clatter  of  paddles,  but  a  faint  veil  of  vapor 
hanging  above  the  heads  of  the  men,  who  were  ranged 
solemnly  along  the  farther  wall,  and  seemed  pale  and  un- 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  87 

easy.  Gustav  drew  the  door  shut  and  slowly  swept  his 
eyes  over  the  group. 

"  Who  has  announced  a  holiday  here?  " 

No  answer. 

"  Very  well,  if  this  is  not  a  holiday,  why  are  you  not 
working?  " 

Embarrassed  silence. 

Then  a  voice  called  out :     "  Because  we  don't  want  to." 

Wiskotten  glanced  quickly  in  that  direction  and  saw 
that  it  was  the  Pole,  the  ringleader. 

"  If  you  don't  want  to  work  that's  your  affair,  but  it 
is  my  affair  to  see  that  the  material  in  the  dye  vats  is  not 
ruined.  I  would  not  have  believed  that  you  could  have 
proven  so  irresponsible.  Your  working  strength  is  your 
own,  but  the  goods  belong  to  me  and  are  only  entrusted 
to  your  keeping.  I  myself  had  rather  be  ruined  than 
betray  a  trust." 

One  of  the  dyers  stepped  forward.  His  voice  was 
husky  with  emotion. 

"  Herr  Wiskotten,  we  realize  all  that.  Property  en- 
trusted to  us  is  sacred.  The  last  piece  was  taken  out  half 
an  hour  ago  and  hung  on  the  racks." 

"  And  what  is  to  be  done  with  them  now  ?  Have  the 
Brownies  or  Gnomes  promised  to  come  and  do  the  beat- 
ing and  wringing?  " 

The  man  shrugged  his  shoulders  and  cast  an  appealing 
glance  at  his  comrades. 

"  Well,  I  see  that  you  don't  want  to  work  any  longer, 
and  the  reason?  Have  I  not  a  right  to  know  that?  " 

A  clearing  of  throats,  some  husky  attempts  at  speech, 
then  silence  again. 

"  You  don't  consider  it  worth  while  to  explain  to  so 
unimportant  a  person  as  I?  Or  am  I  to  understand  that 
you  have  no  reasons  ?  " 


88  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

"  We  have  a  reason,  Herr  Wiskotten." 

"  But  not  the  courage  to  tell  it?  " 

"  The  courage  too  !  " 

"  Well  then,  let  Bartholomew  be  your  spokesman.  His 
tongue  is  loose  enough  over  his  beer.  Now  is  the  time  for 
us  to  profit  by  his  talent." 

A  smothered  laugh  ran  through  -  the  group  as  they 
shoved  forth  an  oldish  dyer,  whose  hair  and  whiskers  were 
discolored  from  long  exposure  to  the  dye  vapors.  He 
protested,  but  was  met  with,  "  Speak  up,  Bartel,  you  can 
do  it." 

"  I'm  waiting,  Bartholomew !  " 

"  Herr  Wiskotten — it  is — so  to  speak — it  is  all  because 
of  the  big  orders  that  are  coming  in  now." 

"  Well,  we  were  not  exactly  idle  before  they  came  in. 
If  we  had  nothing  at  all  to  do,  there  would  be  no  factory." 

"  That's  right,  Herr  Wiskotten,  it  fits  like  the  <  Amen  ' 
in  church.  But  now  there's  more  than  ever  to  do." 

"  God  be  thanked  for  that !  That  gives  you  overtime 
and  you  earn  more.  Does  that  fit  like  another  '  Amen  '  ?  " 

"  Do  you  hear  that?  "  cried  Bartholomew,  to  the  others. 
"  Did  I  not  tell  you  exactly  the  same  thing?  " 

"  Well  then,  if  you  see  that,"  said  Gustav,  with  an  air 
of  surprise,  "  why  are  you  not  working?  " 

Wisczkowski,  the  Pole,  stepped  forward. 

"  Because  we'll  not  be  made  fools  of  any  longer.  We 
know  well  enough  that  we  get  paid  for  overtime,  but  we 
have  a  right  to  more  than  that  in  times  like  these  when 
the  factories  are  cramming  their  pockets." 

Gustav  stared  grimly  at  the  man. 

"Did  I  ask  your  opinion,  Wisczkowski,  or  has  any- 
one else  asked  you  to  speak?  Wait  until  your  turn  comes. 
I  promise  not  to  forget  you." 

"  I've  as  much  right  to  speak  up  here  as  anyone." 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  89 

Gustav  stepped  closer  and  looked  him  in  the  eye,  then 
deliberately  turned  his  back  on  him. 

"  Bartel,"  he  cried. 

"  Yes,  Herr  Wiskotten." 

"  Follow  me  attentively,  for  the  sake  of  those  who  have 
chosen  you  as  their  spokesman.  With  what  wages  did 
you  start  here?  And  now?  Have  they  not  increased 
continually  as  the  dye  works  and  factory  grew  more  pros- 
perous? Has  there  been  a  single  time  when  you  had  to 
do  the  asking  for  a  raise?  Were  not  all  these  raises 
given  voluntarily  ?  Yes,  times  are  good  now  and  we  should 
make  the  most  of  them,  but  do  you  really  believe  the  right 
way  to  profit  by  them  is  to  stop  work  and  sit  under  the 
tree  with  your  mouths  open  for  windfalls?  Look  out 
that  window  there !  You  can  see  where  we're  getting 
ready  to  enlarge  the  factory,  build  bigger  dye  works. 
We're  sinking  good  money  in  there  in  order  that  it  may 
bear  interest  for  you  and  for  us.  Yes,  indeed,  for  you. 
If  we  did  not  risk  that  money  we  should  not  be  able  to 
compete  with  the  big  manufacturers  and  might  be  driven 
to  the  wall  finally.  This  is  how  we  are  preparing  for 
future  prosperity,  and  that  future  prosperity  depends 
largely  on  the  kind  of  work  we  do  right  now.  Shall  we 
set  to  with  a  will  or  go  at  it  half-heartedly?  Is  there 
one  among  you  who  can  truthfully  say  that  the  Wiskot- 
tens  have  ever  treated  him  shabbily?  Is  there  anyone 
who  won't  trust  us  and  wants  his  money  in  advance?  Out 
with  your  grievances!  Let's  have  it  over  in  one  job,  this 
washing  of  dirty  linen !  " 

Bartholomew  had  slowly  backed  away.  There  was  an 
excited  murmur  among  the  others,  then  they  shoved  him 
forward  again.  This  time  his  manner  was  more  assured. 

"  Herr  Wiskotten,"  he  said,  respectfully,  "  what  I  said 
about  orders  and  higher  wages, — everything  I  said  at 


90  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

first  was  all  foolishness.  We've  always  been  satisfied. 
We're  satisfied  now.  We  must  make  that  acknowledgment 
to  you.  But  we  were  altogether  bewildered  and  upset  by 
Wisczkowski's  calculations  about  the  flood  of  gold  that 
was  pouring  into  your  pockets.  He  said  we  ought  to 
have  a  finger  in  it.  And  then,  Herr  Wiskotten,  our  feel- 
ing of  solidarity  must  be  maintained." 

Gustav  Wiskotten  took  the  revised  pay  roll  out  of  his 
pocket. 

"  I  thank  you,  Bartel,  for  your  acknowledgment.  And 
now  that  you  may  all  see  that  I  spoke  in  good  faith  and 
deserve  your  confidence,  I  wish  to  read  you  this  paper 
that  was  made  up  before  we  had  news  of  this  disturb- 
ance. Of  our  own  free  will  we  had  just  revised  the  pay 
roll,  adding  ten  per  cent,  to  your  wages,  both  regular 
and  extra.  Here,  Bartel,  you  can  see  for  yourself.  There 
it  is,  signed  by  myself  and  Herr  August." 

Bartholomew  waved  it  away. 

"  Herr  Wiskotten,"  he  stammered.  "  DonnerJciel,  what 
a  bunch  of  rascals  you  must  think  us  now."  He  turned 
to  his  comrades.  "  Ten  per  cent. !  Of  his  own  free  will! 
Oh,  I  feel  small  enough  to  crawl  into  a  mouse  hole.  I'm 
through." 

The  Pole  could  keep  silent  no  longer. 

"You  pack  of  old  women!  Go  kiss  your  master's 
hand  and  thank  him  for  his  gracious  concessions.  Isn't 
there  a  man  among  you  with  a  mind  of  his  own?  We 
are  not  the  only  ones  in  question,  we're  part  of  a  general 
movement.  Our  spirit  of  solidarity  is  involved." 

"  Wisczkowski,"  cried  Gustav,  harshly,  "  you  no  longer 
have  any  business  here.  You've  been  discharged." 

"  How  you  do  go  on,  Herr  Wiskotten  !  I  and  the  others 
have  all  called  for  our  pay.  We'll  walk  out  together  and 
not  come  back  again  either  until  every  dye  work  on  the 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  91 

Wupper  has  accepted  our  wage  scale — without  conditions 
or  reprimands  too.  They're  to  be  abolished  from  now 
on." 

"  Wisczkowski,  go  to  the  cashier  at  once  and  draw 
your  pay." 

"  There's  no  hurry,  Herr  Wiskotten.  We're  all  going 
together.  Your  fine  talk  of  '  freely  '  giving  us  this  raise 
won't  go  down." 

Gustav  grew  pale  and  almost  gasped  for  breath  in 
mingled  rage  and  astonishment  at  being  thus  boldly  out- 
faced. 

"  Wha-at?  Does  the  fellow  call  me  a  liar?  Get  out!  " 
he  thundered.  "  Get  out  or  I'll  break  every  bone  in  your 
body  into  the  bargain." 

The  man  made  no  move  to  go. 

"  Kolsch,  open  the  door !  " 

The  dye  worker  grinned  derisively.  At  that  Gustav's 
self-control  snapped.  With  a  bound  he  was  upon  his 
thick-set  opponent  and  had  him  by  the  throat  and  waist- 
band. His  chest  heaved  with  the  effort,  the  veins  stood 
out  darkly  on  his  forehead  as  the  silent,  fierce  struggle 
went  on.  The  Pole's  eyes  bulged,  his  lips  were  flecked  with 
foam,  as  he  strove  with  all  his  might  to  crush  the  strong 
hands  that  grasped  him. 

"  Keep  back !  "  cried  Kolsch,  as  the  men  pretended  to 
separate  the  wrestlers.  He  stood  behind  his  master  like 
a  medieval  sword  bearer,  a  veritable  Hagen  at  this  hour. 
He  knew  the  significance  of  this  struggle,  that  the  mas- 
ter's authority  hung  in  the  balance. 

Gustav  seemed  exhausted,  his  eyes  closed  for  a  mo- 
ment. His  opponent  took  advantage  of  the  relaxed  hold 
to  take  a  gasping  breath,  then  with  a  triumphant  cry  he 
sprang  forward.  But  Gustav  met  this  sudden  attack 
with  renewed  fierceness  and,  with  a  mighty  effort,  swung 


92  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

the  Pole  clear  off  his  feet  and  hurled  him  through  the 
open  doorway.  He  fell  with  a  clatter  and  his  limp  body 
thudded  heavily  on  the  ash  heap  outside. 

Outside  a  couple  of  workmen  hastened  toward  the 
fallen  man,  but  grimy  Christian  stood  over  him  with  his 
shovel. 

"  Don't  you  touch  the  damned  rascal.  He's  in  exactly 
the  right  place." 

Gustav  had  felt  shaky  for  a  moment,  but  now  he  began 
to  laugh.  He  set  his  hands  on  his  heaving  sides  and 
laughed  louder  and  louder.  The  men  could  keep  back 
no  longer ;  they  pressed  forward  eagerly  with  outstretched 
hands,  shining  eyes,  smiling  faces. 

"  Herr  Wiskotten !  "  "  DonnerMel!  "    "  Herr  Gustav !  " 

One  of  them  went  through  the  motions  of  flying  out  the 
door  like  the  Pole.  "  Hoop-la !  " 

In  the  midst  of  the  tumult,  the  dyer,  Bartholomew, 
cried :  "  Hurrah  for  our  master,  Herr  Wiskotten  !  Long 
may  he  live,  long  may  he  live !  Vivat  Hoch!  Vivat  Hoch! 
Hurrah!" 

The  ringing  shout  echoed  all  through  the  factory,  and 
the  anxious  brothers  in  the  private  office  smiled  in  relief. 

"  So,"  said  Gustav,  "  now  we're  among  friends  once 
more.  Now  we'll  come  to  a  quick  understanding  on  this 
solidarity  question,  B artel.  How  long  have  you  worked 
here?" 

"  In  May  it  will  be  twenty-five  years,  Herr  Wiskotten." 

"And  Friedrich?     And  Karl  Schlieper?" 

"  Just  the  same." 

"  That's  a  long  time !  Then  there  are  one  or  two  who 
have  been  here  twenty  years,  and  most  of  the  rest  have 
been  with  us  at  least  a  dozen.  When  my  father  started 
the  business  the  majority  of  you  came  to  work  here. 
None  of  the  firstcomers  ever  left,  unless  Death  claimed 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  93 

him.  In  the  place  of  those,  new,  hearty  fellows  have  come 
in  who  soon  felt  themselves  at  home.  We've  stood  by  each 
other  in  good  years  and  bad.  When  a  poor  year  came 
we  bore  it  and  saw  that  no  one  suffered  want.  When  a 
prosperous  year  followed,  we  did  our  best  to  make  its 
profits  compensate  for  past  losses.  Thus  we  have  stood 
by  each  other  like  one  great  family.  Father  and  Mother 
Wiskotten  were  father  and  mother  to  all,  in  your  home 
life  as  well  as  in  the  factory.  If  there  was  a  merry  christ- 
ening feast  or  a  solemn  burial,  we  rejoiced  and  sorrowed 
together  like  one  united  family.  And  always,  through  it 
all — we  have  worked  together.  Is  that  solidarity  or  is  it 
not?  Or  do  you  call  it  solidarity  to  cast  aside  without 
ceremony  this  old  true  friendship  for  the  sake  of  joining 
a  great  mob  that  knows  nothing  of  you,  has  no  personal 
interest  in  you,  just  because  a  few  agitators  and  loafers 
tell  you  it's  the  latest  fashion?  You  know  well  enough 
that  each  and  every  worker  here  is  free  to  have  his  own 
political  and  religious  beliefs.  I  respect  every  honest  con- 
viction, be  it  red,  black,  or  blue.  But  above  all  these  minor 
differences  is  the  one  great  idea  that  unites  us,  the  higher 
and  greater  politics  of  mutual  labor  and  trust.  That  is 
the  true  solidarity.  And  it  was  once  as  much  a  matter  of 
pride  with  you  to  say,  '  We  are  Wiskotten  men,'  as  it 
was  for  us  to  say,  '  We  are  the  Wiskottens ! '  " 
"  And  it  shall  still  be,  Herr  Gustav." 
"  We  know  what  real  solidarity  is,  and  our  women  at 
home  know  too." 

"  Now  stop  lecturing  us,  Herr  Gustav !  " 
"  Make  room !    Stand  back !    Get  to  work ! " 
The  belts   began   to  fly  over  the  wheels,  levers   were 
pressed,   and  the  whirring,   sighing,   steaming   spirit   of 
labor  was  at  work   again  in  the  room,  as  if  there  had 
never  been  a  pause.     The  color  vats  simmered  and  boiled, 


94.  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

the  paddles  thwacked  on  the  wooden  sides  of  the  vats,  and 
the  material  already  on  the  drying  racks  was  attacked 
vigorously,  wrung  and  beaten  as  if  the  men  now  feared 
that  the  dwarfs  might  be  about  to  take  it  away  from 
them.  They  bustled  about  as  if  the  work  was  so  pressing 
that  with  the  best  will  in  the  world  they  would  find  no 
time  to  ask  or  answer  questions.  They  had  apparently 
forgotten  the  presence  of  the  owner,  and  a  man  standing 
near  Gustav  Wiskotten  poured  the  used  water  out  of  a 
vat  so  suddenly  that  the  stuff  splashed  his  boots.  "  Look 
out!"  he  cried,  after  the  mischief  was  done,  and  did  not 
stop  to  make  excuses.  A  thick  white  fog  rose  once  more 
and  enveloped  the  scene. 

"Was  that  all  right?"  asked  Gustav  of  his  foreman, 
as  they  left. 

The  old  graybeard  beamed  at  him.  "  You  could  not 
have  done  better,  Herr  Gustav." 

"The  Pole  has  taken  himself  off,"  cried  grimy  Chris- 
tian, from  his  glowing  inferno.  "  He's  all  in  one  piece — 
except  the  seat  of  his  pants — that's  split." 

"Bad  times  are  coming  to  the  valley,  Kolsch!  Our 
competitors  will  have  trouble  enough  filling  their  orders 
if  they  have  not  prepared  for  this." 

"  Those  who  can  keep  open  will  have  a  fine  time  of  it. 
From  now  on,  we'll  have  to  put  on  night  shifts." 

"  I  depend  on  you,  Kolsch.  Not  a  muscle  can  be 
spared." 

"  Well,  it  would  seem  now  that  the  strike  troubles  of 
the  Wupper  valley  have  no  further  meaning  for  us.  We'll 
make  good  use  of  our  time." 

Gustav  returned  to  the  private  office  all  business — the 
incident  closed  and  forgotten.  He  interrupted  his  broth- 
ers' exclamations  of  satisfaction  with :  "  Let  that  be  till 
later.  We  have  other  things  to  think  of.  We  may  be  the 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  95 

only  ones  in  the  valley  that  are  able  to  keep  open.  Now 
to  plan  the  campaign ! " 

They  put  their  heads  together,  planning  and  reckoning, 
all  afire  with  eagerness.  Their  mother  entered  with  the 
question :  "  What  was  all  the  racket  a  while  ago  ?  " 

"  The  Pole  took  wings  and  flew  out  of  the  dye  works," 
answered  Gustav  curtly.  "  He  made  himself  obnoxious 
and  urged  the  men  to  strike ! " 

«  Wha-at?    Where's  the  rascally  fellow?  " 

"  Already  settled,  Mother !  Probably  getting  his  pants 
mended  now.  They  split  when  he  landed,  you  see.  Now 
listen,  Mother;  we  were  just  going  to  send  for  you. 
From  to-morrow  on  we  shall  run  night  shifts.  Kolsch 
shall  consult  with  you  about  everything  in  your  reel 
rooms ;  you'll  be  wanting  your  girls  there  to  have  spiritual 
tendance  by  night  as  well  as  day." 

"  Emily  might  lend  us  her  Minna?  " 

"  Of  course.  Send  her  word  at  once,  or  better  still, 
why  don't  you  go  over  there  yourself?  It  would  please 
her  mightily  to  have  a  say  in  the  matter." 

It  was  ten  o'clock  that  night  before  Gustav  left  the 
factory.  The  reaction  of  his  unusual  day,  the  after  ex- 
citement of  it  all,  came  over  him  now.  He  felt  that  he 
must  walk  it  off  and  wandered  aimlessly  through  the 
streets  for  some  time. 

The  city  was  awake  and  astir  as  on  a  holiday.  Shouts 
and  oaths  were  heard  on  all  sides.  Outside  the  drinking 
places  the  pale,  anxious  wives  of  the  strikers  stood  wait- 
ing for  them.  Here  and  there  a  more  resolute  woman 
pushed  through  the  crowd  and  reappeared  with  her  de- 
linquent in  tow.  Then  the  others,  harassed  and  worried 
though  they  were,  would  break  out  into  boisterous  laugh- 
ter. 

"  Give  it  to  him,  Hulda!" 


96  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

"  Look  out,  there's  a  step  !  " 

Then  the  laughter  would  ebb  and  a  heavy  silence  fall 
again  among  the  shivering  women. 

The  largest  crowd  was  before  Overam  Schulte's.  The 
striking  Rittershauser  dyers  had  their  headquarters 
there.  Schulte  had  given  them  the  freedom  of  his  hall. 
"  But  no  disorder,  or  I'll  turn  out  the  lights !  "  He  him- 
self stood  near  the  speakers'  platform,  his  powerful  arms 
bared,  ready  to  quell  the  least  disturbance.  Gustav  had 
come  in  with  the  crowd  and  now  let  himself  be  carried 
along  toward  the  center  of  interest.  A  speaker  on  the 
platform  was  saying  that  all  the  factories  of  the  district 
had  shut  down  at  noon,  with  the  sole  exception  of  the 
Wiskottens. 

"  Renegades !  "  cried  a  hoarse  voice. 

Abraham  Schulte  rose  on  tiptoes  and  glanced  search- 
ingly  over  the  crowd. 

"  Hush !  "  cried  a  few  voices.     "  Go  on !  " 

The  speaker  went  on  to  discuss  the  social  question  and 
the  solution  for  which  all  must  strive.  His  speech  was 
quiet  and  pithy,  as  he  discussed  the  Wupper  valley  dye 
factories,  the  various  branches  of  wholesale  trade  involv- 
ing dyeing,  the  large  profits  of  the  business  and  the  low 
wages.  He  asserted  that  many  families  of  the  factory 
hands  were  forced  to  live  and  sleep  in  a  single  room,  or 
to  have  at  most  a  kitchen  and  sleeping  room.  He  ex- 
horted the  pastors  of  the  valley  to  be  more  active  in  their 
care  for  the  social  welfare  and  observance  of  the  decencies 
among  their  parishioners.  There  they  could  reach  the 
real  root  of  evil,  rather  than  in  vestry  meetings,  where 
they  hobnobbed  with  the  wealthy  factory  owners.  He 
demanded  thoroughness,  practical  work,  not  mere  make- 
shift charity;  sweeping  innovations  only  to  be  attained 
through  united  action  on  their  part. 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  97 

"Hear!     Hear!" 

"  Where  are  the  Wiskotten  men?  " 

"  I  move  that  the  meeting  pass  a  vote  of  censure  on 
the  Wiskotten  workers !  " 

"  Have  you  the  floor?  "  cried  Overam,  frowning  at  the 
interruption. 

"  A  vote  of  censure " 

"  Are  you  deaf?    I  asked  if  you  had  the  floor." 

"  No— but " 

"  Then  you  will  have  the  goodness  to  wait  your  turn. 
No  speaking  except  from  the  platform." 

The  form  of  old  Bartholomew  now  appeared  on  the 
platform.  There  were  a  few  hisses,  answered  by  cries 
for  silence.  "  I  have  just  one  thing  to  announce,  in 
my  own  name  and  in  that  of  my  comrades.  We  are 
no  strikebreakers!  Why  so?  Because  we  have  no  need 
to  strike." 

"Traitor!    Dog!" 

Overam  Schulte  patrolled  the  hall  angrily.  "  If  that 
brawler  opens  his  mouth  again,  I'll  show  him  a  thing  or 
two.  Everyone  gets  a  chance  to  be  heard  here,  but  it 
must  be  from  the  platform  and  in  an  orderly  manner. 
Beer?  " 

"  And  why  don't  we  need  to  strike,  we  who  work  for  the 
Wiskottens?  Because  we  have  absolutely  no  grievances. 
Because  for  twenty-five  years  the  firm  has  treated  us 
fairly,  us  and  our  families.  And  may  God  fricassee  the 
devil  if  we  shall  repay  such  treatment  with  ingratitude 
and  baseness.  It's  solidarity  enough  when  one  belongs 
to  one  great  family  as  we  do.  The  Wiskottens  and  their 
work  people  have  done  that  since  the  beginning.  That's 
the  truest  solution  of  the  problem.  It's  a  shame  that  all 
factory  owners  are  not  like  the  Wiskottens.  We  know 
well  enough  they're  not,  and  because  we  understand  this 


98  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

we  are  willing  to  contribute  from  our  own  wages  to  help 
the  strike." 

"  Judas  silver !    Judas  silver !  " 

This  time  Schulte  had  spied  out  the  disturber.  "  Aha ! 
The  Pole!  Mister  Wisczkowski!  Are  you  the  speaker?  " 

"  No." 

"  Will  you  hold  your  tongue,  then?  " 

"  No." 

"Well  then,  young  fellow,  I'll  attend  to  you.  You 
don't  belong  here."  He  heaved  the  Pole  up  like  one  of 
his  beer  kegs  and  shoved  him  through  the  crowd.  Some 
offered  to  help,  but  the  bull-necked  innkeeper  had  no  need 
for  them.  "  Leave  him  alone ;  he's  a  pastmaster  in  the  art 
of  sudden  exits.  Hoop-la !  " 

The  Pole  bumped  down  the  stairs  and  burst  out  among 
the  waiting  women,  who  were  delighted  at  this  new  butt 
for  their  sarcastic  comments.  "  Donnerkiel!  you're  in  a 

hurry "      "  Make   way,   here   comes    one   in  a   great 

hurry  to  solve  the  *  social  question ' "     "  Look  at  the 

absent-minded    professor,    he's    forgotten    his    pants ! " 
"  Hush,  there  are  women  folk  present." 
•     •     *     •     • 

That  evening  Gustav  Wiskotten  was  very  late  return- 
ing home.  His  dyers  would  not  let  him  go  and  he  re- 
mained with  them,  sat  among  them  as  his  father  had  in 
the  patriarchal  days  of  the  valley,  when  there  had  been 
no  class  feeling,  no  strikes. 


CHAPTER  VI 

THE  giant  whose  mighty  limbs  filled  the  valley  bed  was 
stricken  with  Spring  fever.  His  blood  was  stirred  and 
heated  by  the  south  wind,  that  had  wheedled  away  the 
latest  trace  of  snow;  by  the  March  sun,  who  knew  how 
to  give  such  ardent,  youthful  kisses.  The  spirit  of  ad- 
venture was  abroad,  longings  and  desires  such  as  fit  the 
Springtide  were  felt;  men  felt  Spring's  influence  in  their 
renewed  courage  and  ambition,  and  songs  of  love  and 
freedom  rang  in  the  streets. 

The  working  people  of  Barmen  had  their  share  in  all 
this  too.  The  woodlands  cried  out  to  them,  "  We've  kept 
a  thousand  buds  safe  in  their  brown  jackets  through  the 
long  Winter — not  for  them  to  remain  hard  and  close- 
folded,  but  to  expand  and  riot  in  the  new  life  of  the  year. 
Have  you  less  hope  and  promise  of  blossoming  time  than 
the  trees  of  the  forest?  " 

And  the  sun,  who  had  renewed  his  youth  with  the  young 
year,  smiled  down  on  them,  saying,  "  Children  of  men,  you 
forget  the  season!  There  is  but  one  Springtide  in  each 
year!" 

They  resounded  to  the  exhortation  of  Spring,  and 
came  to  claim  their  share  in  the  season's  joys.  The  young 
ardor  of  the  sun  was  not  alone  for  those  who  had  spent 
the  Winter  in  sheltered  comfort;  it  was  for  them,  the  peo- 
ple, as  well.  They  put  on  their  holiday  cloaks,  stuck  their 
caps  jauntily  on  one  side  and  cried,  "  Now,  let  the  sun 
shine ! " 

They  streamed  along  the  narrow  streets  that  skirted 
99 


100  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

the  river  banks,  chary  of  speech  but  eager-eyed,  inspired 
by  the  unusual  feeling  of  freedom  in  midweek — the  re- 
sult of  the  strike.  They  gazed  about  them  in  strange 
wonder,  as  if  seeing  their  familiar  valley  for  the  first 
time.  A  ready  laugh  greeted  each  attempt  at  jest  or 
repartee,  and  many  laughed  from  sheer  sympathy  at  jests 
that  never  reached  them — their  inner  excitement  de- 
manded a  vent.  Crowds  gathered  about  the  labor  union 
headquarters.  Those  without  knew  that  inside  these 
places  new  modes  of  living,  new  conditions  were  being 
discussed — a  new  world  was  in  the  making.  Their  breath 
came  gaspingly  as  with  fixed,  intent  eyes  they  strove  to 
wring  these  secrets  from  the  blank,  silent  walls  that  shut 
them  out.  Then  the  business  was  finished  and  the  leaders 
and  organizers  passed  on  to  other  centers.  Everywhere 
the  same  silent,  mysterious  demonstration  of  power  and 
purpose. 

Meanwhile  the  holiday  makers  pressed  on  to  their  fa- 
vorite drinking  places.  Here  genial  liquor  and  compan- 
ionship loosened  tongues,  bared  hearts.  Demands  of  the 
union  were  discussed,  wages,  working  hours,  and  holidays. 
Curses  mingled  with  expostulations — fantastic  dreams  of 
youthful  enthusiasts  with  the  sober  bread-and-butter 
policy  of  their  experienced  elders. 

"  The  main  thing  is  to  be  able  to  carry  the  money  home 
to  '  Mother.' " 

"  The  main  thing  is  that  from  now  on  the  labor  party 
must  have  a  voice  in  affairs " 

"  The  party?  I  have  six  hungry  youngsters  at  home. 
They  are  '  party '  enough  for  anyone,  and  have  a  voice,  I 
can  tell  you." 

Day  after  day,  meanwhile,  the  Spring  sun  rose  brightly, 
gayly,  filling  the  valley  with  restless  thoughts,  hopes,  ex- 
pectations. One  afternoon  Ewald  Wiskotten  could  not 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  101 

endure  to  remain  at  home  any  longer.  His  young  blood 
was  in  a  ferment  of  the  same  restlessness  that  filled  the 
valley.  The  unrest  seemed  to  hover  in  the  air  and  be  ab- 
sorbed through  the  very  pores  of  his  skin.  He  had  looked 
through  his  school  sketches  and  filled  his  portfolio.  Now, 
with  the  precious  burden  pressed  close  to  his  side,  he  was 
on  his  way  to  Elberfeld  to  visit  the  painter  Weert.  He  it 
was  who  could,  must,  show  him  the  way  to  freedom — the 
freedom  he  himself  had  tasted. 

The  poetic  illusions  with  which  he  approached  the 
painter's  studio  were  soon  rudely  dispelled.  A  slatternly 
maid  opened  the  door  and  without  further  ceremony 
ushered  him  into  the  sanctum  sanctorum.  His  eye  was 
startled,  confused  by  a  medley  of  incongruous  objects — 
worthless  rubbish  much  of  it,  old  weapons,  bits  of  bright 
tapestry,  curious  trifles,  some  bizarre,  others  truly  beauti- 
ful— all  calculated  to  wrench  the  bourgeois  soul  from  its 
moorings  and  launch  it  rudderless  in  the  realm  of  Art. 
In  the  midst  of  all  this  an  easel,  on  it  a  life-size  copy  of 
Van  Dyck's  "  Marchesa  Spinola "  in  all  the  charm  of 
her  youth  and  dazzling  beauty ;  the  masterpiece  of  that 
great  artist  that  epitomizes  all  that  was  his  of  harmony 
in  coloring,  elegance  of  composition,  and  sweetness  of  ex- 
pression. It  was  difficult  for  the  beholder  to  decide 
whether  its  charm  lay  chiefly  in  the  subject  chosen — was 
it  not  after  all  due  to  the  inimitable  handling  of  the  mas- 
ter's brush? 

Across  the  room  on  an  old  sofa  lay  the  master  of  the 
studio  asleep ;  of  this  there  could  be  no  doubt,  as  the 
room  resounded  with  his  sonorous  snores. 

"  Good  day,  Herr  Weert !  "  said  Ewald,  loudly. 

A  spasm  ran  through  the  prostrate  form.  "What? 
Who?  Excuse  my  momentary  distraction.  I'm  in  the 
midst  of  a  composition — searching  for  a  shade,  an  ex- 


102  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

quisite  tone — yes,  that  is  right.  I  have  it  now!"  He 
sprang  up,  ran  his  hands  through  his  hair,  and  suddenly 
recognized  his  visitor.  "  You  ? "  he  said,  slowly,  his 
voice  betraying  his  annoyance  at  the  unwelcome  intrusion. 
"  What  has  brought  you  here,  young  man  ?  If  you  want 
to  be  photographed,  the  place  is  three  doors  further  on, 
to  the  left." 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,  Herr  Weert,  for  having  broken 
into  your  afternoon  siesta." 

"  Siesta?  I  sleep  only  at  night  and  far  from  well  even 
then.  I  compose  on  that  sofa !  " 

"  May  I  disturb  you  for  a  few  minutes,  then  ?  " 

"  The  word  is  well  chosen.  Very  well,  be  so  good  as 
to  *  disturb '  me,  now  that  you  are  here."  He  stroked 
his  bushy  beard  and  glowered  at  the  young  man  from 
blood-shot  eyes. 

"  Herr  Weert,  a  week  ago  Sunday  I  had  the  pleasure 
of  conversing  with  you  about  art." 

"The  pleasure?     Incidentally,  I  never  discuss  art." 

But  Ewald  had  resolved  in  advance  not  to  let  himself 
be  put  off  by  any  rudeness. 

"  Herr  Weert,"  he  broke  in,  "  ever  since  I  was  a  little 
fellow  I've  heard  your  name  in  such  great  respect  that  I 
cannot  think  of  anyone  else  as  being  more  able  to  give 
me  the  good  advice  I  need  now.  I  want  to  go  to  the 
Academy — to  become  a  painter — to  learn  to  be  an  artist, 
to  paint  as  you  do " 

The  painter  laughed,  ironically.  "Like  me?  Like 
me?  You  must  be  drunk.  I,  a  painter?  " 

"  Herr  Weert,"  stammered  the  young  man,  "  I,  even  I, 
know  a  little,  if  only  a  very  little,  about  painting.  The 
man  who  painted  this  picture,  this  wonderful  lady  on 
canvas,  that  man  is  an  artist." 

"  He  is,  indeed,  my  boy.    Without  a  doubt,  Van  Dyck  is 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  103 

an  artist — such  an  artist ! "  He  suddenly  became  silent 
and  strode  over  to  the  canvas,  stood  before  it  in  brooding, 
thoughtful  silence,  stroking  the  glowing  pigment  with  a 
clumsy  affection — a  world  of  inarticulate  love. 

"  Herr  Weert !  " 

"What  is  it,  my  boy?" 

"  Was  it  not  you  who  painted  this  copy?  " 

"  Certainly.  I  painted  it  long  ago,  copied  it  from  the 
glorious  original  by  Van  Dyck — not  so  badly,  either. 
Yes,  yes,  in  those  far-off  days  when  I  was  still  a  wanderer 
in  many  lands  and  held  my  youthful  enthusiasm  to  be 
talent.  Then  I  had  the  courage,  the  bravado  to  attempt 
the  themes  of  Van  Dyck.  This  painting,  those  days  I 
That  is  all  I  have  saved  from  it  all — a  single  canvas." 

"  But  it  is  a  treasure." 

"Yes,  indeed,  more  especially  to  me!  But  for  it  I 
might  be  a  house  painter,  at  best  a  decorator.  But  this 
is  my  lure,  my  magnet.  Does  the  world  hold  a  lovelier 
lady?  One  more  charming  and  graceful  than  this  Italian 
Marchese,  whose  fair  body  has  long  since  been  food  for 
worms?  Name  me  one!  Indeed,  you  cannot.  God  him- 
self has  his  humorous  moments,  I  believe.  For  think  of 
it !  He  lets  some  stodgy  lace,  braid  or  tape  manufactur- 
er's wife,  such  as  live  in  this  valley,  lose  her  way  to  the 
photographer  (three  doors  on  to  the  left)  and  stumble 
upon  my  studio.  Well,  do  you  imagine  she  can  tear  her- 
self away  after  seeing  my  enchantress?  It  is,  '  Oh,  Herr 
Weert,  you  must  paint  me  like  that.  In  that  pose  and 
the  same  colors.  Just  think  the  eyes  my  husband  will 
make.  I  must  surprise  him  with  it.'  And  so  I  paint 
every  one  of  our  buxom  barnyard  fowls  in  the  guise  of 
this  rare,  sweet  turtledove — in  this  pose,  these  colors.  I 
can  readily  believe,  without  seeing,  that  her  husband  will 
c  make  eyes  '  at  the  portrait,  be  surprised.  My  treasure, 


104  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

my  all,  is  a  copy.  Its  possessor — what  was  it  you  said 
just  now? — a  painter !  " 

"  Herr  Weert,  if  I  could  but  paint  one  such  copy " 

"  Don't  be  ridiculous,  you  son  of  the  black  Wupper ! 
Of  course,  I  am  aware  that  I  can  paint  better  than  anyone 
else  here.  I  might,  indeed,  aspire  to  something  more  than 
membership  in  the  local  painters'  guild.  Ah,  this  Wupper 
valley,  this  valley  thrice  accursed  of  all  the  Muses.  I 
myself  fled  it  twice,  but  the  aroma  of  the  fleshpots  drew 
me  home,  and  there  was  too  much  greed  in  me  for  a  third 
attempt.  Do  you  know  what  my  importunate  stomach 
has  cost  me?  My  art,  my  career — nothing  less,  young 
fellow." 

"  But  you  are  now  the  most  sought-after  portrait 
painter  in  Elberfeld  and  Barmen." 

"  Because  there  was  no  other  so  besotted  as  I,  among 
those  who  followed  art  from  this  benighted  valley.  They 
made  their  escape  to  more  favored  lands,  and  were  will- 
ing to  suffer  hunger  rather  than  return.  Thus,  I,  who 
turned  back  in  cowardice,  greed,  am  the  most  sought- 
after  artist  of  the  region.  Because,  forsooth,  I  can  visual- 
ize a  Helen  in  every  woman,  transform  every  female  prod- 
uct of  the  textile  industries  into  a  sister  of  Van  Dyck's 
peerless  one.  Neither  has  my  study  of  the  Old  Masters 
been  wasted,  no  indeed!  Ah!  but  they  understood  the 
possibilities  of  costume.  At  all  our  festivals  and  holi- 
days it  is  I  who  arrange  the  living  pictures,  tableaus, 
floats,  after  famous  paintings.  Our  '  ladies  '  here  find 
everything  modern  too  common  for  their  tastes.  Don't 
forget  this  in  your  studies — bear  this  in  mind — so  that 
on  your  return  you  may  be  competent  in  this  useful  occu- 
pation." 

Ewald  looked  a  picture  of  entreaty  and  deprecation. 
"  May  I — now — show  you  my  drawings  ?  " 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  105 

The  painter's  eyebrows  went  up  in  assumed  surprise. 
"Is  not  all  that  enough  to  dissuade  you?  Well  then,  in 
God's  name,  let  me  see  them.  My  worst  enemy  cannot 
accuse  me  of  having  led  you  into  this." 

He  took  the  portfolio  and  opened  it,  turning  the  leaves 
carelessly.     Ewald  suffered  agonies,  the  leaves  seemed  to 
fall  all  too  swiftly,  and  in  spite  of  his  unhappiness  he 
could  not  bear  to  have  one  of  his  darlings  slighted. 
"  Herr  Weert,  you  have — overlooked  a  page." 
"  So  much  the  better."     Then   a  silence,  heavy  witn 
suspense.     After   a   few   minutes — hours   to   Ewald — the 
painter  suddenly  closed  the  portfolio,  tied  it  up  deliber- 
ately, and  handed  it  slowly  to  the  breathless  expectant. 
"  Not  bad." 

"  You  find,  then,  that  I  have— have  talent?  " 
"Let  us  dispense  with  such  words  in  plain  speaking. 
Talent?  Van  Dyck  had  talent,  so  had  his  master,  Rubens, 
and  old  Diirer.  Rembrandt  was  a  genius.  I  speak  only 
of  the  German  masters,  now.  The  rest  of  us,  my  boy, 
must  be  content  with  the  title  of  '  painter,'  given  us  by  an 
easy-going  public." 

"  But  have  I  enough  for  even  that?     Truly?  " 
"Who  said  anything  like  that?     I  said  not  a  single 
word  about  your  becoming  a  painter.     All  that  I  said 
was  *  not  bad.'  " 

"I  beg  of  you,  Herr  Weert,  not  to  play  the  oracle." 
"  Must  I  be  more  explicit?  Well  then,  I  see  everything 
that  can  be  recognized  for  workaday  uses  here.  You 
have  the  right  stroke  and  enough  fancy  and  creative 
ability  for  original  composition.  One  can  see  that  you 
have  grown  up  in  a  manufacturing  atmosphere.  Such  lace- 
work,  such  an  eye  for  ornamental  detail — quite  extraor- 
dinary. You  are  well  fitted  to  design  the  most  chic  of 
fashion  plates." 


106  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

"  Don't  jeer  at  me,  Herr  Weert." 

"  I'd  be  more  of  a  boor  than  I  am  to  do  that.  I  advise 
you  to  go  on,  be  up  and  doing." 

"Ah!    Paint  pictures?" 

"Ach,  no!    Fashion  plates." 

"  Herr  Weert,  enough  of  this  mockery !  If  you're  hav- 
ing your  joke  at  my  expense,  well  and  good.  But  if  you 
are  in  earnest " 

"  In  earnest?  You  would  do  well  to  show  more  respect 
for  my  judgment,  Herr  Kollege" 

"  Very  well.  You  just  told  me  to  go  on.  I'll  not  forget 
that.  I'm  ready  to  be  '  up  and  doing  '  too." 

"  Boy,  come  to  your  senses." 

"  I  have  come  to  my  senses,  Herr  Weert,  and  I  shall 
take  good  care  in  the  future  to  make  the  others  at  home 
come  to  theirs.  I'm  going  to  Diisseldorf  at  once.  I  know 
what  I  want,  and  I'll  get  it." 

"  I  cannot  agree  with  that.  Listen  a  minute — ach, 
Gott,  this  youth  has  gone  mad — don't  shout  like  an  an- 
archist here  in  this  studio.  He's  hopeless.  Nature  and 
time  alone  can  cure  him." 

"Herr  Weert.  It  is  Springtime  in  the  valley.  The 
factory  hands  parade  the  streets  in  their  Sunday  best, 
claiming  their  share  of  God's  sunshine." 

"  It's  likely  to  shower  and  ruin  their  finery." 

"  No,  no !  I  take  it  for  an  omen.  I  claim  my  share  of 
the  world's  sunshine  that  never  penetrates  this  smoky 
valley.  I'm  going  out  into  that  sunlight,  into  the  bright 
lands  of  art  and  freedom." 

"  Aha ! "  cried  the  artist,  grasping  the  gesticulating 
arm,  "  now  at  least  we're  getting  at  the  root  of  the  mat- 
ter ;  youth  is  always  the  same,  and  yet  the  newspapers  say 
we  are  progressing.  '  Art !  Freedom ! '  Boy,  boy,  had 
you  but  said  work!  I  can  now  console  myself  with  the 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  107 

prospect  of  having  you  return  to  us  a  few  years  hence — 
I  shall  have  a  congenial  boon  companion  then ! " 

"Herr  Weert,  for  God's  sake  stop  jesting!  I'm  in 
earnest  about  this  artist  freedom.  Tell  me  of  your  own 
experiences,  I  beg  of  you.  Forgive  me  too,  for  having 
wasted  so  much  of  your  time." 

"Wait  a  moment,"  growled  his  host,  as  he  scribbled 
hastily  on  a  bit  of  paper,  "  I'm  directing  you  to  the  right 
place  for  whatever  you  want."  Folding  the  note,  he  pre- 
sented it  to  the  young  man  with  a  deep  bow. 

"  Read  it  outside,  but  not  now,  if  you  please.    Adieu." 

"  Herr  Weert " 

"  Very  well,  I  see  you  still  wish  a  parting  word  from 
me — a  bit  of  worldly  wisdom.  Now  then  listen  with  all 
your  ears — one  can  gain  wisdom  only  through  experience. 
The  juice  of  the  grape  must  become  wine,  willy  nilly  in 
spite  of  all  its  aspirations,  sweet  or  sour,  according  to  its 
nature.  Thus  every  youthful  iconoclast  is  bound  to  settle 
down  into  a  useful,  law-abiding  citizen  when  he  arrives  at 
the  proper  age." 

"  I  had  rather  you  spoke  to  me  of  the  freedom  I  am 
going  out  into — freedom  itself,  not  what  it  produces." 

"  My  second  bit  of  philosophy,  '  Whoever  has  returned 
from  the  land  of  freedom,  whoever  has  seen  it,  never 
speaks  of  it.  Whoever  speaks  glibly  of  it  has  never  seen 
it.' " 

"  But  why  do  they  not  speak  of  it,  those  who  have  seen 
it?" 

"  Because,  perhaps,  it  has  been  given  them  to  see  some- 
thing celestial — or  infernal.  Perchance  the  naked  glory 
of  a  seraph — or  a  Medusa!  Farewell,  farewell,  if  pos- 
sible forever — well." 

Ewald  Wiskotten,  greatly  disconcerted  at  this  unusual 
harangue,  took  his  departure,  and  the  painter  stood  star- 


108  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

ing  heavily  at  his  beloved  canvas.  "  Silence ! "  he  com- 
manded it,  "  don't  tell  me  what  I  might  have  been.  I 
know  that  I'm  a  failure.  Genius  demands  industry — 
•sacrifice!" 

Once  outside,  Ewald  remembered  the  note  that  had 
been  given  him.  He  opened  it  and  read :  "  Herr  Korten, 
Master  Poet."  Here  then  was  the  one  to  show  him  the 
way  to  freedom.  A  vision  of  the  old  man  in  his  shabby 
frock  coat  flashed  before  him,  the  light  of  enthusiasm 
shining  undimmed  from  his  aged  eyes.  He  recalled  the 
old  poet's  tales  of  the  great  Napoleon  and  the  stirring 
days  of  world  conquest;  the  patriotic  songs  still  echoed 
in  the  boy's  mind.  How  the  old  fellow  put  the  pessimist 
Weert  to  shame.  With  the  impetuosity  of  youth  that 
transforms  its  wishes  into  beliefs,  he  contemptuously  dis- 
missed the  painter  as  a  Philistine  and  hastened  to  visit 
the  aged  idealist. 

A  tremulous  little  old  woman  opened  the  door,  a  good, 
kind  soul,  who  regarded  him  somewhat  anxiously.  "  We 
are  just  at  coffee.  Will  you  kindly  step  in?  " 

He  entered  a  simply  furnished  room,  the  walls  of  which 
were  covered  with  steel  engravings  and  framed  diplomas. 
The  old  poet  was  seated  at  the  table,  comfortably  sipping 
his  afternoon  coffee  from  a  generous  cup. 

"  Ah,  my  young  friend !  Welcome  to  my  tusculum. 
Mother,  this  is  one  of  the  young  Wiskottens ;  a  brother 
of  the  gifted  Paul  Wiskotten,  and,  like  him,  a  young  man 
who  understands  art." 

The  old  man  gazed  half  fearfully  at  the  guest  and 
began  hastily  to  clear  the  table. 

"  My  helpmate,"  said  the  old  man,  beaming,  as  he 
rubbed  his  hands  together,  "  is  an  excellent  woman.  If 
only  she  had  a  proper  appreciation  of  art,  she  would 
be  quite  perfect." 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  109 

During  this  speech  the  old  woman  had  drawn  nearer 
to  Ewald.  "  Ach,  Herr  Wiskotten,"  she  wailed,  "  if  you 
could  but  wean  him  away  from  his  poetry.  He  is  such 
a  good  man,  but  in  this  one  thing  he  is  like  a  child.  Old 
as  he  is,  he  cannot  free  himself  from  the  childish  fancies." 

"  Oh,  you  of  little  faith !  "  cried  the  old  man.  "  To 
love  youth  is  to  love  life  and  to  remain  young.  Do  you 
want  to  make  an  old  man  of  me?  " 

"  That's  the  way  he  always  goes  on,"  said  the  little 
old  woman,  with  an  appealing  look  at  her  visitor,  "  al- 
though he  is  all  of  eighty  years  old." 

"  '  Mulier  taceat  in  ecclesia,'  says  St.  Paul — *  women 
must  keep  silent  in  church ! '  When  people  discuss  art, 
they  become  religious,  serious,  Mother.  And  our  guest  is 
impatient  to  commence  his  pious  art." 

"  I'm  going,  I'm  going,  husband,  I'm  going  right 
away."  She  hurried  away  with  the  laden  tray,  casting 
one  last  appealing  look  at  Ewald.  "  Always  this  high- 
sounding  talk — you  must  learn  to  accept  it  as  we  do." 

"  An  excellent  woman,"  repeated  the  old  man,  with  a 
fond  look  at  the  disappearing  housewife.  "  Won't  you 
sit  down?  Make  yourself  comfortable.  A  cigar?  H'm 
— well,  can  I  not  offer  you  a  pipe,  then.  For  indeed  the 
cigars — Schiller  would  say,  '  The  place  is  burnt  out.'  The 
phrase  fits  our  present  state.  You'll  really  enjoy  a  pipe? 
Wait,  here  is  a  spill.  To  light  a  pipe  with  a  match  is  like 
eating  fish  with  a  steel  knife.  Now  we'll  chat.  What 
times  these  are,  to  be  sure  !  " 

"  The  factory  hands  are  lounging  about,  parading  the 
streets  in  their  Sunday  finery." 

"  Yes,  yes,  yes,  that  is  what  we  reap !  In  '48  they  were 
in  coarse  blouses,  to-day  their  Sunday  clothes  on  week 
days !  We  enriched,  fertilized  the  hard  soil  with  our  best 
blood  so  that  it  might  blossom  in  the  future." 


110  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

"Was  it  so  dreadful  then  in  the  Wupper  valley?" 

"  Terrible,  yet  wonderful.  Wonderful  indeed  for  the 
poet  listening  to  the  heart  beat  of  his  people.  The  move- 
ment arose  and  grew  out  of  a  land's  anguish  and  sense 
of  oppression.  It  is  wrong  to  uproot  and  overthrow  the 
religion  of  a  people.  They  were  exposed  harshly,  sud- 
denly, to  the  working  of  new  strange  forces.  They  awoke 
suddenly  to  the  fact  that  they  had  been  promised  much 
and  given  little,  and  now  that  the  restraints  of  faith  and 
tradition  were  removed,  they  rose  to  demand  their  rights. 
There  was  no  patience  in  this  new  regime,  no  meek  sub- 
mission. Armed  and  menacing,  they  forced  recognition 
from  the  king  in  Berlin,  in  that  March  of  '48,  when  the 
liberty  bells  were  ringing.  You  surely  know  Freiligrath's 
battle  song?  Yes,  that  was  the  work  of  our  trained  bands. 
Then  when  the  National  Assembly  was  dissolved  and  the 
deplorable  condition  of  affairs  became  known — then  in 
the  year  '49 — these  same  volunteer  trained  bands  were 
formed  once  more  in  Baden,  in  the  Palatinate.  When 
the  militia  here  was  about  to  be  mobilized,  we  refused  to 
give  our  quota  of  men  until  certain  fundamental  rights 
of  the  German  people  were  recognized,  secured.  When 
troops  were  sent  to  enforce  the  levy,  we  barricaded  the 
streets  and  riots  broke  out ;  men  sang  '  Freedom  that  I 
love.' " 

"  Ach,  Herr  Korten,"  broke  in  Ewald,  "  those  must  have 
been  mad  days." 

The  old  man's  ready  enthusiasm  flared  up,  he  took  his 
pipe  from  his  mouth.  "  Listen  to  this,"  he  cried. 

"  *  Auf,  deutscJies  Volk,  du  stark  Geschlecht, 
Es  schlug  die  grosse  Stunde. 
Steh  auf  und  sei  nicht  langer  Knecht, 
Mit  Kraft  und  Mut  steh  fur  dein  Recht, 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  111 

Im  heil'gen  Volkerbunde! 

Der  schwarz-roth-goldenen  Fahne  nack 

Zu  Sieg  und  Heil  aus  Druck  und  Schmach! 

Wir  zittern  nicht  vor  Bajonetten — 

Die  Freiheit,  die  Freiheit, 

Die  Freiheit  bricht  die  Ketten!  '  "  * 

"  Ha !  Freedom ! "  repeated  Ewald  with  blazing  eyes, 
"  and  then " 

"  Then  they  tore  up  the  pavements,  threw  the  burgo- 
master's furniture  out  of  the  windows  to  build  bar- 
ricades, and  tried  to  hang  the  mayor  from  his  own  lamp 
post " 

"  They'd  never  have  done  all  that  if  our  Gustav  had 
been  there,"  interposed  Ewald,  somewhat  skeptically. 

"  Gustav !  Who  is  Gustav,  or  any  one  man  to  curb  the 
sovereign  people  in  rebellion.  The  hot-headed  royal  ad- 
vocate Hoechster  was  himself  a  ringleader,  and  so  was  the 
well-known  Dr.  Bracht.  Then  torches  blazed  and  salvos 
resounded,  I  can  tell  you.  '  For  Freedom !  For  Free- 
dom ! '  was  the  cry."  He  fell  back  into  his  chair,  shaken 

with  emotion.  "  Do  you  think  my  valorous  Lagienka ? 

Achi  those  Polish  songs.  There's  poetry  for  you !  " 

"  Now  it's  my  turn,"  cried  Ewald,  hastily  undoing  his 
portfolio. 

"  You'll  live  to  see  it  all,  Herr  Wiskotten,"  said  the  old 
man,  still  absorbed  in  his  theme ;  "  the  working  people 
shall  have  their  demands  granted.  The  consecrated  blood 
of  those  days  cannot  have  flowed  in  vain.  Now  the  flowers 

*  Up,  German  folk,  you  mighty  race,  the  crucial  hour  has  struck. 
Arise  and  be  no  longer  enslaved,  with  strength  and  courage  claim 
your  rights  in  the  holy  people's  confederation!  Follow  the  flag 
of  black-red-gold  to  victory  and  peace,  from  oppression  and  shame. 
We  tremble  not  before  opposing  bayonets — freedom — freedom — free- 
dom bursts  our  chains. 


112  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

on  which  it  softened  the  soil  in  preparation  are  indeed 
blooming,  and  God's  sun  shines  above  us  for  each  and 
all." 

"  For  even  me,"  trumpeted  the  lad.  "  I  will  have  my 
share  of  artist  life  and  freedom.  I'm  going  to  the  Acad- 
emy at  Diisseldorf." 

"  Du  lieber  Gott!  You  lucky  fellow ! "  cried  the  old 
man,  in  an  awed  tone. 

"  Would  you  care  to  see  my  drawings  ?  " 
"  If  I  may  have  that  pleasure." 

The  portfolio  flew  open  on  the  table  before  them.  A 
white  and  a  brown  head  bowed  over  it  seriously.  The  two 
enthusiastic  hearts  beat  in  rhythmic  union — 

"  How  beautiful — how  wonderfully  beautiful !  " 

"  Do  they  please  you,  then  ?  " 

"  How  can  one  speak  when  he  is  in  the  midst  of  such 

enjoyment !    No,  please  don't  turn  the  page  yet.    The 

handiwork  of  coming  greatness  !  Oh,  Herr  Wiskotten,  the 
ancients  were  wise  when  they  sacrificed  hecatombs  to  the 
gods." 

Ewald  felt  no  shrinking  or  embarrassment  here.  His 
ambitious  youth  claimed  its  rights — for  praise.  The  child- 
ish old  idealist  seemed  to  him  an  appreciative  comrade, 
who  rose  with  him  above  the  criticisms  of  the  common 
herd. 

"  And  these  manufacturers'  patterns  ?  " 
"  Herr  Gott!  Herr  Wiskotten.  I  am  myself  an  old 
storekeeper.  Fifty  years  of  my  life  were  spent  in  the 
factory,  from  apprentice  up,  so  I  have  some  right  to  an 
opinion  of  my  own.  And  I  say,  as  Simon  said  in  the 
temple,  *  Lord,  now  lettest  thou  thy  servant  depart  in 
peace!'" 

"  Here  I've  indicated  the  various  materials,  tried  to  give 
the  texture  and  colors  in  watercolors — adding  my  own 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  1.13 

elaborate  patterning.  That  was  all  the  work  of  idle  mo- 
ments, a  mere  jest  with  art — just  to  see  if  I  were  not 
more  gifted  with  inventive  talents  than  our  old  pattern 
designer  in  the  factory." 

"  Splen-did !  Paris  would  go  wild  over  them,  you  may 
be  sure — order  hundreds  of  thousands  of  yards  of  such 
novelty  goods." 

"  Do  you  know  Paris,  Herr  Korten?  " 

"  Paris  ?  Yes — that  is  to  say,  from  her  catalogues  and 
order  books.  The  firm  for  which  I  worked  so  long  sold 
chiefly  to  Paris.  There  I  became  acquainted  with  the  tastes 
of  the  Parisians,  and  from  that  the  people  themselves." 

"  After  I've  spent  a  few  years  in  Diisseldorf,  I  shall  go 
to  Paris  too !  " 

"Ah,  yes  indeed,  to  Paris  by  all  means.  Paris  with 
its  entrancing,  intoxicating  traditions.  You  know  of  Hein- 
rich  Heine — he's  buried  in  Montmartre " 

"  But  I'm  interested  in  the  living,  Herr  Korten !  " 

"  Well,  well,  perhaps  you  are  right  in  that.  We  are  a 
people,  a  race  of  thinkers  and  poets.  If  we  but  do  justice 
to  our  contemporaries,  our  age  too  shall  be  immor- 
talized." 

"  Have  you  traveled  far  in  your  day?  " 
."  Far?  What  do  you  call  far  nowadays?  I've  been  to 
the  Siebengebirge  twice,  have  seen  the  legendary  Drachen- 
fels  on  the  Rhine,  and  once  I  visited  Antwerp — was  in  Ant- 
werp at  the  time  when  the  great  Flemish  poet,  Hendrik 
Conscience,  celebrated  his  jubilee.  I  it  was  who  brought  to 
him  the  congratulations  of  the  Wupper  valley  poets  writ- 
ten in  their  native  Platt-Deutsch.  There  was  a  bond 
between  him  and  us,  as  there  has  been  Flemish  blood  in 
the  valley  ever  since  the  war  of  the  Spanish  Succession 
drove  so  many  religious  refugees  here  from  the  Nether- 
lands. They  settled  in  our  valley,  bringing  with  them  their 


114  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

secrets  of  silk  weaving  and  lace  making.  Yes,  yes  indeed, 
I  have  traveled  in  my  day." 

"And  you  have  all  these  diplomas  too,  Herr  Korten. 
You  have  been  held  in  great  honor  too,  in  your  long 
life." 

The  old  man  smiled  wistfully.  "  In  too  great  honor, 
perhaps.  Too  great  for  my  modest  talents.  But  it  makes 
me  proud  and  happy.  These  diplomas  are  a  record  of  my 
progress,  they  attest  that  I  have  not  buried  my  own  small 
'  talent ' ;  that  I  have  labored  faithfully  in  the  service  of 
the  Muses.  Instead  of  worldly  rewards,  laurels  have  come 
to  me.  Do  you  realize,  Herr  Wiskotten,  that  the  people 
of  the  valley  look  upon  a  poet  as  a  higher  sort  of  being. 
When  they  wish  for  a  prologue  to  a  holiday  play,  or  a 
poem,  they  do  not  presume  to  offer  money  in  exchange 
— does  that  not  show  a  certain  fineness  in  them?  I  think 
so,  although  the  good  wife  has  always  thought  otherwise, 
all  her  life.  Instead  of  money  they  repay  me  with  the 
highest  honors  that  are  theirs  to  give — honorary  member- 
ship in  their  guilds  or  trades  unions.  There  is  not  a 
single  such  association  in  the  Wupper  valley  that  has 
failed  to  honor  me  in  this  way." 

Ewald  rose.     "  I  must  be  going  now." 

"  Yes,  my  dear  young  friend,  into  the  great  free 
world  that  awaits  you !  It  was  my  fate  to  remain  close 
to  my  native  soil,  but  just  because  of  this  I  can  realize 
all  the  more  keenly  what  it  means  to  escape  out  into  free- 
dom. Go,  then — hasten — but  do  not  forget  us  who  can 
only  dream  of  freedom  and  far-away  lands." 

Ewald  left  the  old  optimist,  with  flushed  cheeks  and 
bright  eyes — "go,  then — hasten,"  rang  in  his  ears, 
throbbed  in  his  heart,  lent  wings  to  his  feet.  The  heights 
of  the  valley  cup  flamed  as  with  beacon  fires  in  the  glow 
of  the  setting  sun,  and  he  took  it  for  an  omen.  At  that 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  115 

moment  he  would  have  laughed  to  scorn  the  suggestion 
that  they  were  not  indeed  guiding  fingers  of  fire  lighting 
his  way. 

The  life  that  flooded  and  surged  through  the  twin 
cities  pleased  him  in  his  mood  of  exaltation;  he  felt  that 
all  this  visible,  joyous  tumult  was  but  an  outward  ex- 
pression of  his  own  inner  feelings.  Still  burning  with  a 
mental  fever  that  the  cool  March  winds  had  no  power  to 
abate,  he  entered  his  parents'  house. 

"  Where  have  you  been  all  day  ?  "  queried  his  mother, 
angrily,  as  she  stopped  reading  and  took  off  her  spectacles. 
Pushing  the  lamp  toward  the  middle  to  get  a  better  light 
on  his  face,  she  added :  "  The  pastor  sat  here  waiting  for 
two  hours.  You,  you  were  the  one  who  kept  him  waiting!  " 

"  I  never  asked  him  to  come !  " 

"  You  needn't  be  impudent.  When  he  is  kind  enough 
to  offer  his  advice,  you  should  thank  him." 

"  What  does  the  pastor  know  of  my  needs?  " 

"  Father,  the  boy  must  be  crazy.  *  What  does  the  pas- 
tor know  of  his  needs?'  Where  have  you  been?  Have 
you  been  drinking?  " 

"  You  know  nothing  at  all  of  the  stuff  that  has  made 
me  drunk." 

"  You  could  not  pay  your  mother  a  higher  compliment 
— that  was  hardly  your  intention,  I  take  it?  " 

"  Ach,  I  mean  it  was  not  whiskey  or  beer.  I'm  talk- 
ing of  a  stronger  intoxicant,  Inspiration." 

"What's  the  boy  talking  about,  Father?  " 

"  In-spir-ation." 

"  Inspiration  ?  These  are  not  the  days  of  Napoleon, 
Sedan  !  Indeed,  I  see  it  is  high  time  that  you  were  brought 
in  from  running  wild  on  the  streets.  In  two  weeks  you're 
going  to  Halle." 

"To— Halle?     Why  Halle,  Mother?  " 


116  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

"  The  pastor  says  that  you  will  get  on  with  your  studies 
best  there." 

"  No,  for  once  and  all,  I'm  going  to  put  an  end  to  this 
pastor  business.  Why  should  he  mix,  unasked,  in  my 
affairs?  He  ought  to  have  weightier  things  on  his  mind. 
How  does  he  find  time  to  sit  so  long  in  the  factory-owners' 
houses?  He's  needed  more  elsewhere." 

"  Do  you  know  what  you  are?  A  shameless  fellow. 
And  a  rapscallion  like  you  aspires  to  become  a  minister !  " 

"Indeed,  I  don't!" 

"  You  don't  what?  "  Frau  Wiskotten  leaned  forward — 
"  What  is  that  he  said,  Father.  I  think  I  did  not  hear 
right." 

"  He  said  he  does  not  wish  to." 

"Well,  what  does  he  not  wish  to  do?  What  won't  he 
do?" 

"  Mother,  let  me  have  my  say  out^  After  all,  the  ques- 
tion concerns  my  future.  I  know  well  enough  that  your 
intentions  are  good.  But  why  are  you  trying  to  force 
me  into  a  calling  for  which  I  have  not  the  slightest  in- 
clination? " 

"Because  it  is  all  settled,  and  because  it  is  for  your 
own  good — and  a  consoling  thought  for  all  of  us.  That's 
why!" 

"That's  why?  Are  we  then  Jews,  to  sacrifice  one  for 
all.  Or  Catholics  with  a  vow  to  fulfill?  " 

"  God  forgive  him !  What  a  blasphemous  tongue  he 
has!" 

"  Truly,  truly,  Mother,  I  don't  want  to  offend  you,  but 
I  cannot  become  a  minister.  Can't  you  see  that  I  do  not 
feel  the  slightest  calling.  Surely,  one  should  not  become 
a  pastor  in  the  same  matter-of-fact  way  as  one  becomes 
a  shoemaker  or  a  tailor.  How  can  you  wish  to  force  me 
into  the  ministry?" 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  117 

"  Because  it  is  all  settled — decided." 

"Nothing  is  settled,"  stormed  the  youth.  "Father, 
have  I  not  told  you  already  that  I  will  not — cannot." 

The  old  man's  habitual  peace  of  mind  was  troubled  by 
this  dispute.  He  attempted  to  pacify  them  by  a  sug- 
gestion— "  Shall  we  not  wait  till  Gustav  comes?  " 

"  I'd  like  to  know  where  Gustav  comes  in  here ;  it's 
my  affair !  "  cried  the  boy. 

"  Or  perhaps  August,  Mother?  " 

"  No,  not  August,  either ;  it's  bad  enough  that  the  spirit 
of  contradiction  has  grown  so  strong  here,"  cried  the 
angry  old  woman ;  "  it  goes  about  like  a  lion  seeking  whom 
he  may  devour." 

"  At  least  let  him  tell  us,  Mother,  what  he  does  want 
to  be." 

"An  artist,  Father." 

"  What ! !  "  rang  menacingly  from  the  old  woman's  lips. 
"  What  is  that — an  artist?  " 

"  I  want  to  go  to  Diisseldorf — to  the  Academy  there.  I 
want  to  be  a  painter." 

Frau  Wiskotten  made  an  incredulous  gesture,  but  her 
hand  trembled  as  it  fell  on  the  table.  "  Say  that  again !  " 

"  An  artist,  Mother.  I  want  to  paint  pictures  of  every- 
thing beautiful ;  people,  animals,  the  whole  of  creation." 

Frau  Wiskotten's  lips  moved,  but  no  sound  issued  from 
them.  Her  face  became  livid,  and  deep  creases  of  anger 
furrowed  it.  "  You  must  have — forgotten — your  cate- 
chism? " 

"  Mother,  now  listen  to  me !  " 

"  What  is  the  First  Commandment?  " 

"  I  don't  know,  Mother,  and  it  has  nothing  to  do  with 
this,  anyway " 

"  And  God  spake  all  these  Commandments — '  Thou  shalt 
not  make  unto  thee  any  graven  image  or  any  likeness  of 


118  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

anything  that  is  in  heaven  above,  or  that  is  in  the  earth 
beneath,  or  that  is  in  the  water  under  the  earth.'  " 

"  But,  Mother,  that  was  meant  altogether  differently— 
those  were  different  times." 

"  It  is  not  different.  It  is  written  just  so.  And  I  won't 
for  an  instant  allow  you  to  explain  away  a  single  letter 
of  Holy  Writ." 

"  But,  Mother,  haven't  we  had  many  pious  church 
painters?  " 

"  No  Protestants,  none  of  the  Reformed  Faith." 

"  But  Evangelical " 

"What  all  don't  they  call  Evangelical  nowadays!  I 
don't  follow  that  fashion,  however!  What  is  written,  is 
written." 

"  Mother,  let  me  explain  to  you." 

"  What,  shall  I  let  my  own  child  teach  me  ?  Have  you 
forgotten  the  Fourth  Commandment  too  ?  " 

The  boy  cast  a  despairing  glance  about  him;  he  was 
fairly  stifling  with  emotion.  Then  he  saw  his  mother 
reach  for  her  spectacles  and  newspaper.  The  act  mad- 
dened him,  he  refused  to  be  dismissed — "  I  will  be  a 
painter !  "  he  cried  aloud. 

"  Ewald !  "  remonstrated  his  father. 

"  I'm  going  to  be  a  painter ;  yes,  indeed,  I  am !  And 
Mother  shall  learn  that  I  mean  what  I  say." 

"  Then  go  to  the  kirmess  and  join  some  troupe  there, 
become  a  low  comedian  at  once,"  cried  his  mother,  angrily, 
striking  the  table  with  her  open  hand.  "  They're  all  of 
a  kind.  Novel  scribblers,  paint  daubers,  theater  puppets 
— do  you  know  where  they  all  belong?  In  the  devil's 
caldron,  all  together  in  the  devil's  caldron." 

"Our  great  geniuses?" 

"  Wastrels,  one  and  all."  Again  the  energetic  old  hand 
struck  the  table  a  resounding  blow.  Then  Frau  Wiskotten 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  119 

rose  to  go  into  the  kitchen  about  her  tasks  for  the  even- 
ing meal.  The  boy  rose  too,  every  inch  of  his  lanky 
height. 

"  Mother,"  he  said,  stepping  in  her  path,  "  I'll  be  of 
age  this  Winter.  Surely  I'm  old  enough  to  have  some  voice 
in  my  own  affairs;  you're  guilty  of  a  great  sin  if  you 
don't  help  me  in  my  choice." 

"  I'm  ready  to  answer  to  my  God  for  such  sins.  You 
may  leave  that  to  my  conscience." 

"  Mother,  won't  you  send  me  to  the  Academy?  " 

"  I'd  sooner  send  you  to  the  poorhouse." 

"  You  will  not  give  me  any  support?  " 

"  Not  a  penny." 

"And  you,  Father?" 

The  old  man  signaled  to  him — "  Wait,"  but  the  boy  was 
beyond  further  self-restraint.  "  Then  you  cast  me  off — 
like  a  beggar?  Well,  I'll  go,  Mother,  I'll  go." 

"  Your  bed  here  will  always  be  ready  for  you." 

With  lips  convulsively  pressed  together  to  keep  down 
the  angry  sobs,  the  boy  turned  and  went  out  of  the  room. 
In  the  bedroom  he  shared  with  his  brother  Paul  he  blindly 
found  and  readily  packed  a  small  satchel.  Then  he  made 
sure  that  he  still  had  the  hundred-mark  bill  his  father  had 
secretly  given  him  after  he  had  passed  his  examinations 
so  well,  put  on  his  hat  and  coat,  and  was  off  with  his 
satchel  and  precious  portfolio  of  sketches.  The  house 
door  slammed.  The  old  couple  in  the  living  room  ex- 
changed an  uneasy  look  of  mutual  understanding. 

"  Mother,"  said  the  old  man,  "  if  only  nothing  happens 
to  the  lad."  His  eyes  were  wet.  "  Do  you  hear,  Mother? 
He's  gone." 

"  Father,"  said  the  old  woman,  folding  her  tremu- 
lous hands,  "  Father,  compose  yourself,  this  is  Holy 
Week.  .  .  ." 


CHAPTER  VII 

FOE  a  week  the  strike  continued  to  cripple  the  indus- 
tries of  the  Wupper  valley,  obliging  the  factory  owners 
to  have  their  yarn  made  up  by  outside  firms  at  a  great  loss 
of  time  and  money.  The  Wiskottens  had  profited  im- 
mensely by  being  the  only  factory  to  remain  open.  They 
put  on  day  and  night  shifts  to  fill  the  lion's  share  of  Au- 
tumn orders  that  poured  in  upon  them.  The  members  of 
the  firm,  even  the  women  folks  of  the  family,  found  little 
time  for  rest  or  recreation. 

"Our  William  certainly  knows  how  to  make  the  most 
of  an  opportunity,"  said  Gustav  to  his  mother ;  "  he  has 
painted  the  strike  demon  in  such  lurid  colors  that  they're 
mighty  anxious  about  their  orders.  A  great  lawyer  was 
lost  in  him." 

"  Lawyer !  Our  William  is  not  anxious  to  drive  straight 
to  the  devil  in  a  post  chaise."  Since  her  youngest  child 
had  gone  away  in  anger  the  old  woman  had  grown  harsher 
than  ever. 

Easter  came  and  went;  there  followed  part  of  another 
week,  and  then  the  chimneys  of  the  valley  were  once  more 
belching  forth  smoke  like  so  many  angry  dragons.  The 
accustomed  clouds  of  black  vapor  again  gathered  about 
the  roofs  of  the  twin  towns,  and  tourists  gazing  down 
from  the  Sonneborn  railway  bridge  saw  with  amazement 
that  creatures  in  human  semblance  dwelt  in  this  steam- 
ing caldron. 

The  strikers  and  their  employers  had  come  to  an  un- 
derstanding: each  had  come  to  the  realization  that  there 
120 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  121 

was  far  more  loss  than  profit  for  all  in  letting  the  works 
be  idle  at  the  busiest  time  of  the  year.  A  compromise  was 
reached  and  holiday  clothes  and  manners  disappeared 
promptly  into  convenient  closets.  Their  wearers  had  al- 
ready begun  to  weary  of  the  perpetual  Sunday  atmos- 
phere, were  homesick  indeed  for  their  comfortable  worka- 
day blouses.  The  first  keen  pleasure  had  long  since  gone 
from  their  aimless  strolls  by  the  river,  and  their  sturdy 
muscles  cried  out  for  their  usual  vigorous,  purposeful 
employment.  Then,  too,  directly  after  Easter  Sunday, 
the  "  heavens  opened,"  letting  down  such  copious  floods 
of  rain  that  the  pleasant  promenades  were  covered  with 
boggy  mud.  Driven  home  by  the  inclement  weather,  the 
men  were  assailed  by  complaints.  Their  wives  reminded 
them  continually  that  their  wages  were  now  all  spent  and 
the  pittance  doled  out  to  them  by  the  union  did  not  suf- 
fice to  buy  as  much  as  a  dry  herring  apiece  for  the  angry 
mouths  at  home.  Under  this  last  assault,  holiday  gayety 
soon  vanished,  and  finding  no  peace  or  comfort  at  home, 
the  strikers  turned  instinctively  to  their  masters  for  help 
— anything  to  escape  from  the  reproaches  of  their  wives. 
So  a  peace  was  patched  up  on  reasonable  terms,  with  the 
unspoken  hope  of  seeing  those  terms  voluntarily  revised 
by  the  owners  at  the  end  of  a  busy  and  profitable  season. 

Thus  the  factory  chimneys  began  to  pour  forth  smoke 
once  more,  in  great  clouds,  as  if  hastening  to  make  up 
for  lost  time.  But  Gustav  looked  on  with  a  smile;  the 
Wiskottens  had  already  skimmed  the  cream  of  that  sea- 
son's trade.  His  success  in  handling  his  people  had, 
however,  won  him  the  ill  will  of  the  other  owners.  Envious 
glances  followed  him  and  many  spiteful  remarks  were  made 
anent  his  lack  of  caste  loyalty. 

"  What  is  this  thing — caste?  "  he  asked  of  his  wife  when 
she  reproachfully  quoted  her  father  to  him.  "  For  me 


122  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

there  is  but  one  caste,  and  that  is  the  '  Wiskottens.'  If 
that  caste  prospers  in  its  factory,  I'm  satisfied." 

"  It  is  easy  to  see  that  you  come  from  peasant  stock  !  " 

"  Oh,  is  it?  How  is  it  that  you  notice  this  for  the  first 
time  today?" 

"  Otherwise  you  would  have  stood  by  your  own  class 
and  not  with  the  strikers." 

"  Woman,  my  workmen  stood  by  me.  That's  quite  dif- 
ferent." 

"You're  simply  splitting  hairs.  Had  your  factory 
closed  down  like  the  others,  the  rest  of  the  factory  owners 
would  not  have  had  to  humble  themselves  so  much." 

"  If  they  had  shown  more  foresight  with  regard  to  their 
men,  they  would  not  have  been  obliged  to  at  all.  At  our 
works  there  was  nothing  but  order  and  contentment.  Was 
it  in  my  place  to  evoke  disorder — discontent?  In  return 
for  the  long-standing  good  faith  of  my  men,  simply  be- 
cause the  other  factory  owners  were  lacking  in  good 
sense — could  not  see  further  than  their  own  noses?  No 
indeed!" 

"I  really  believe  you're  glad  that  the  others  were  in 
so  much  trouble." 

"  Yes  indeed !  Absolutely  and  entirely !  I  only  regret 
that  it  did  not  last  longer." 

"  You  ought  to  be  ashamed  to  say  such  things." 

"  I'm  not  so  easily  shamed.  The  others  are  not,  either, 
but  when  they're  in  such  a  fix  it's  easy  for  them  to  act  as 
if  abused.  But  I  have  the  courage  of  my  convictions,  and 
dare  to  speak  the  truth  from  my  heart." 

"  If  you  have  anything  like  a  heart." 

Answering  only  with  a  frown,  he  left  his  home  and 
went  back  to  the  factory.  The  foundations  were  being 
put  in  on  the  new  building  site  by  the  Wupper.  He  looked 
on  for  a  few  minutes,  then,  refreshed,  he  began  his  daily 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  123 

round  in  the  factory.  Everywhere  he  saw  cheerful  ac- 
tivity, with  no  signs  of  fatigue  or  listlessness.  The  sigh- 
ing and  shirring  of  the  ribbon  looms  were  accompanied 
by  whistling  and  singing.  A  girl  came  flying  up  the  steps 
in  leaps  and  bounds,  on  her  way  from  the  workroom.  In 
the  highest  of  spirits,  she  did  not  see  the  owner  until  she 
had  run  headlong  against  him.  "  You  thunderbolt,"  he 
laughed,  and  held  her  fast  an  instant,  then  his  grasp  loos- 
ened and  she  hurried  on  her  way.  A  flash  of  longing  came 
to  him  suddenly,  a  desire  for  his  share  in  this  eager  joy- 
of-living  he  saw  all  about  him — a  longing  that  left  him 
depressed  for  the  rest  of  the  day. 

Evening  found  him  weary  to  the  point  of  exhaustion  as 
he  returned  to  his  home.  He  desired  nothing  so  much  as 
a  refreshing,  undisturbed  sleep.  Fritz  had  relieved  him 
and  taken  over  the  night  shift. 

"  Good  evening,"  he  said,  cheerily,  tossing  his  cap  on 
the  nearest  chair.  "  Are  the  children  in  bed?  " 

Emily  sat  at  her  work  table  and  seemed  not  to  notice 
his  entrance.  At  his  question  she  answered  with  a  curt 
"  yes." 

"  You  might  at  least  say  *  Good  evening,5 "  he  said, 
as  he  seated  himself  at  the  dinner  table.  "  Is  there  any- 
thing to  eat?" 

"  To  me ?  " 

"  I  have  already  eaten  with  the  children." 

"  Did  you?  "  He  played  idly  with  his  knife  and  fork, 
but  made  no  further  attempt  at  conversation.  The  maid 
brought  in  the  supper  and  Gustav  ate  it  in  silence.  After 
he  had  folded  his  napkin  he  let  his  arms  fall  wearily  to 
his  sides.  "  I  cannot  go  in  to  see  the  children  tonight. 
I'm  tired  out.  I'm  going  to  bed  at  once." 

No  answer. 

"  Is  anything  the  matter  with  you,  Emily?  " 


124  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

"Absolutely  nothing!  But  I  think  it  quite  proper 
that  you  do  not  go  near  the  children  tonight." 

"What  do  you  mean?" 

"  I  don't  need  to  tell  you." 

"  I  haven't  the  slightest  notion  what  this  is  all  about." 

"I  suppose,  then,  that  such  happenings  are  everyday 
matters  with  you?  " 

"  What— in  Heaven's  name?  " 

Emily  Wiskotten  raised  her  head,  hate  and  contempt 
gleamed  in  her  reddened  eyes.  "  You  might  as  well  have 
brought  her  along  with  you — that  young  person !  " 

"What  young  person,  pray?     Donner wetter!" 

"  You  needn't  swear  before  me ! "  she  fairly  shrieked, 
no  longer  mistress  of  herself.  "  If  anyone  has  a  right  to 
curse  here  it  is  /.  What  do  /  get  out  of  life?  Anger, 
worry,  humiliation — nothing  more.  I'm  treated  like  a 
beggar,  given  alms,  not  what  is  my  due." 

"That  is  not  the  truth!" 

"  That  is  the  whole  truth.  Nothing  is  discussed  with 
me ;  everything  with  your  mother !  I'm  only  good  enough 
for  a  housemaid;  yes,  that's  it,  a  housemaid  to  see  to  the 
meals  and  give  thanks  to  her  Creator  for  the  favor  of 
seeing  her  master  a  few  minutes  at  meal  times.  What  do 
I  know  about  you  after  ten  years  of  married  life?  Just 
what  you  look  like,  nothing  more — absolutely  nothing. 
And  if  I  learn  anything  by  chance,  it  must  be  something 
humiliating ! " 

"  You're  out  of  your  senses,  Emily." 

"How  can  I  be  otherwise,  when  I  hear  such  things? 
Lying  in  wait  for  your  own  working  girls,  so  as  to  hug 
and  kiss  them,  and  then  play  the  innocent  to  me !  Pah ! 
Pah!" 

Poor  Gustav  blushed  painfully ;  innocent  though  he  was, 
he  felt  himself  in  the  wrong. 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  125 

"Who  told  you?" 

"  So  you  don't  even  take  the  trouble  to  lie  about  it? 
I'm  not  of  enough  importance  for  a  lie?  Ach  Goitl  If 
there  were  no  children ! " 

"  Now  do  be  reasonable.  I  only  asked  you  who  told 
you  this  tale." 

"  That  has  nothing  to  do  with  the  matter." 

"  It  has  a  great  deal  to  do  with  it,  for  the  half  of  it 
was  a  lie." 

"  A  lie,  indeed !  The  lie  is  yours.  Why,  Minna  saw 
it  with  her  own  eyes." 

"Minna?" 

"  Yes,  Minna,  as  she  was  taking  the  coffee  to  the  office. 
She  saw  you  there  with  your  arms  about  that  woman. 
'  The  master  is  in  a  good  humor,'  she  added,  grinning.  I 
could  have  slapped  her  face  for  that !  " 

"  Do  you  find  it  so  strange,  then,  for  me  to  be  in  a 
good  humor,  Emily?" 

"  Oh,  with  other  people  you're  probably  always  happy, 
but  I  am  kept  at  home  here  and  don't  see  it." 

"  There  was  nothing  between  that  girl  and  me  that  will 
not  stand  examination;  it  was  only  a  jest.  I  grabbed  her 
as  she  ran  up  the  steps.  That  was  all — I  never  kissed  her 
or  hugged  her." 

"  Apparently  there  was  no  need  for  words — nor  of  what 
you  did,  either !  " 

"  No,  there  was  no  necessity.  I  have  no  need  of  diver- 
sion. All  I  must  do  is  work  till  my  head  swims,  then  eat 
and  sleep !  What  more  can  a  man  want  ?  " 

"  Then  you  must  have  thought  of  such  things  if  you 
did  not  say  them." 

Gustav  rose,  gazing  half  dreamily  past  his  wife  as  if 
he  had  forgotten  her  existence.  "  Yes,  I  thought  how 
beautiful  it  must  be  to  have  such  a  gay  young  creature 


126  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

rush  to  meet  me  and  fling  her  arms  about  my  neck,  bring- 
ing to  me  a  world  of  laughter  and  song,  of  ardent,  eager 
love!  Ach!  Then  I  could  go  forth  day  after  day  and 
attack  my  work  with  the  ardor  of  a  dozen  men,  that  I 
might  be  free  to  return  home  the  sooner.  And  I  thought, 
how  strange  it  is  that  many  women  lack  the  gift,  the 
charm  for  this !  " 

All  her  anger  flamed  anew.  "  You're  trying  to  cast 
all  the  blame  on  me.  After  all  our  past  together!  Oh, 
how  can  you?  " 

"  Stop,  Emily !  We've  talked  this  all  over  often  enough. 
You  are  what  you  are,  and  there  is  no  way  to  change 
you." 

"  Why  did  you  marry  me,  then  ?  Were  you  foolish 
enough  to  think  you  could  reeducate  me  to  your  way 
of  thinking?  " 

Gustav  looked  at  her  appealingly,  his  face  quivering. 
"  We  were  both  so  very  young  then.  We  had  not  the 
slightest  idea  of  what  marriage  really  meant." 

"  Well,  is  that  your  excuse ;  don't  you  even  know  why 
you  wanted  me  then?  "  she  said,  scornfully. 

"  It  was  because  you  were  beautiful.  I  said  to  myself, 
*  A  person  that  is  so  beautiful  must  also  be  happy,  and 
happiness  is  good  in  one's  home.'  But  I  was  mistaken — 
you  are  not  at  all  cheery." 

"  But  you  made  no  mistake  about  my  money." 

Quietly,  as  if  explaining  some  well-known  fact  to  a 
fractious  child,  he  answered,  "  Your  money  made  our  mar- 
riage possible.  Ten  years  ago  we  Wiskottens  were  not 
in  a  position  where  I  could  have  indulged  in  an  act  that 
would  have  brought  hardship  on  the  whole  family.  That 
may  sound  harsh,  but  our  family  pride  is  very  strong. 
Had  you  given  it  a  thought,  you  might  have  judged 
that  I  would  carry  that  same  strong  family  feeling  into 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  127 

my  new  home,  would  be  equally  loyal  to  this  household. 
It  lay  wholly  in  your  hands  to  develop  my  tender  side, 
and  draw  me  to  you  as  my  duties  in  the  factory  became 
less  burdensome,  and  I  had  more  free  time  for  my  own 
pleasures.  But  you  seem  to  be  lacking  in  tact  as  well 
as  cheerfulness.  Family  ties  and  affections  are  not  knit 
any  closer  by  continual  nagging.  And  the  factory — the 
factory  and  no  other  outside  interest  whatever — has  al- 
ways left  me  too  weary  to  do  it  for  both." 

Emily  flung  herself  into  a  chair,  sobbing: 

"  I  wish  I  could  go  away.  ...  I  wish  I  had  never  had 
the  children  ...  so  that  I  could  go  away,  like  Ewald; 
yes,  like  Ewald.  He  at  least  has  shown  you  that  he  won't 
be  bullied,  that  he  is  what  he  is  and  must  be  paid  some 
attention.  Ach  Gott " 

Gustav  groped  for  his  cap. 

"Where  are  you  going?  You  said  a  moment  ago  you 
were  going  to  bed." 

"  I've  forgotten  to  leave  some  orders  at  the  factory." 

She  faced  him  accusingly :  "  She — is  she — the  person 
of  this  afternoon — there  now?" 

"  You  might  show  your  own  desire  for  my  company  in 
a  more  agreeable  way,  Emily.  Good  night." 

"  I'll  leave  this  house  at  once.  I'll  not  let  myself  be 
humiliated  any  more." 

"Good  night,  Emily." 

His  step  lacked  buoyancy  as  he  walked  across  to  the 
factory,  and  told  his  brother  Fritz,  whom  he  found  smok- 
ing in  the  private  office,  to  go  home  to  bed. 

"  I  happened  to  remember  some  work  I  must  get  off 
tonight,  and  a  few  more  hours'  work  won't  kill  me." 

When  old  Kolsch  came  in  later  for  instructions  about 
the  filling  of  an  order,  he  found  his  young  master  sitting 
before  his  desk,  his  head  bowed  wearily,  seeing  nothing, 


128  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

doing  nothing.  Receiving  no  answer  to  his  question,  the 
old  man  went  up  and  laid  an  affectionate  hand  on  the  list- 
less shoulder.  Gustav  looked  up,  their  eyes  met  in  a 
friendly  glance.  "  Kolsch,  I'm  getting  old.  The  well- 
springs  of  my  youth  are  drying  up."  The  old  man  gave 
the  shoulder  another  hearty  pressure  and  went  out.  Speech 
failed  him,  but  he  busied  himself  about  the  work  that 
Gustav  should  have  been  doing. 


A  week  later,  William  Wiskotten  returned  from  Eng- 
land. He  arrived  early  one  morning  and  went  directly 
to  his  parents'  house  in  order  to  sleep  off  the  fatigue  of 
his  journey  before  meeting  his  brothers.  When  Gustav 
arrived  there  from  the  factory  that  afternoon  the  returned 
traveler  was  still  sleeping. 

"  He  had  earned  that  much  indulgence,  Mother.  It  is 
a  weary  task  to  keep  up  with  those  '  Misters  '  across  the 
water." 

"  You  don't  look  well,  Gustav." 

"  Am  I  talking  so  foolishly  that  you  think  me  ill?  " 

"  No,  I  was  not  listening,  but  looking  at  you.  Come, 
have  a  cup  of  coffee  with  us.  Pastor  Schirrmacher  is  here 
too." 

Gustav  did  not  need  to  be  coaxed.  "  I  have  not  seen 
Father  lately,  so  I  think  I  will." 

Old  Wiskotten  was  visibly  delighted  to  see  his  eldest 
son.  He  grasped  Gustav's  hand  and  held  it  in  a  long 
clasp.  "  Don't  be  so  choicy  in  your  company,  you  rascal ! 
I  cannot  find  anyone  to  equal  you  in  laughing  the  rheu- 
matism out  of  my  old  bones." 

"How  are  you,  Father?  Don't  be  angry  with  me  for 
staying  away.  I've  had  no  new  jokes  for  you  lately." 

"  Sit  down,  Gustav.     Take  a  holiday  with  us." 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  129 

"  Good  day,  Herr  Pastor.  Pardon  me  for  not  greeting 
you  first." 

"Good  day,  my  dear  Gustav.  You  were  perfectly 
right  in  the  order  of  your  greetings.  Honor  your  father 
and  mother,  so  that  you  may  prosper." 

"  I  try  to,  Herr  Pastor.     One  does  the  best  one  can." 

"  At  last  these  strike  troubles  are  happily  over.  I 
preached  my  people  a  sermon  to  stir  their  consciences 
last  Sunday :  '  Not  unto  him  through  whom  strife  cometh 
into  the  world.'  " 

"  Was  that  the  text  for  the  day?  " 

"  From  the  twentieth  chapter  of  St.  John :  *  Blessed  are 
they  who  do  not  see,  and  yet  believe.'  " 

Gustav  stirred  his  coffee  thoughtfully.  "Yes,  that 
would  have  been  hard  to  convince  them  of  also." 

"  The  doubting  Thomas  of  Holy  Writ  finds  many  suc- 
cessors in  our  own  day  !  " 

"  At  least  our  Lord  let  him  feel,  to  be  sure  that  it  was 
He.  I  too  must  see  and  touch  before  I  can  believe." 

But  the  turn  the  conversation  had  taken  did  not  please 
Frau  Wiskotten  and  she  broke  in :  "  Yes,  the  strike  is 
ended  now,  and  you  must  be  busier  than  ever,  Herr 
Pastor." 

"  He's  had  plenty  to  keep  him  busy  all  the  time, 
Mother." 

"  My  dear  Gustav,  your  mother  is  quite  right.  There'll 
be  many  now  who  will  begin  to  see  the  error  of  their 
ways,  and  I'll  not  hesitate  to  give  them  a  pithy  word  or 
so  of  advice." 

"  To  the  factory  owners  too?  " 

The  pastor  looked  up  sharply.  Then  he  said  slowly,  in 
his  sonorous  pulpit  voice:  "Be  subject  to  the  authority 
that  is  just  over  you.  For  there  is  no  authority  save  from 
God." 


130  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

"  Herr  Pastor,"  Gustav  played  nervously  with  his  cup, 
"  you're  not  preaching  to  Sunday-school  children  here. 
Any  opinion  can  find  backing  in  the  Bible.  But  can  we 
support  our  opinions  so  well  by  our  own  acts?  You  know 
how  absolute  is  the  religious  faith  of  the  Wiskottens,  of 
Mother  and  August  at  least.  You'll  have  to  take  me  into 
the  bargain  as  the  family's  doubting  Thomas !  And  listen, 
Herr  Pastor,  I  have  my  doubts  of  the  striking  power  of 
sermons  from  the  pulpit  that  are  not  prefaced  by  deeds 
that  give  them  genuine  meaning." 

"  Tell  me  what  is  on  your  mind,  my  son." 

"  Is  there  much  for  me  to  say?  It  is  the  custom  in  our 
valley  for  the  pastor  to  visit  the  members  of  his  parish. 
Well  and  good!  But  what  are  the  limits  of  that  parish? 
Does  it  comprise  only  those  who  faithfully  attend  church? 
If  so,  then  it  is  only  a  matter  of  reciprocal  visiting.  To 
my  mind,  the  parish  should  be  much  larger,  for  those  who 
never  go  to  church  have  all  the  more  need  of  a  pastor  and 
friend.  The  others  have  him  every  Sunday  in  church." 

Pastor  Schirrmacher  clapped  his  hands.  "  You've  said 
something  worth  while.  Yours  is  a  point  of  view  that 
claims  consideration.  Do  I,  too,  fall  under  your  sweeping 
condemnation  ?  " 

"  Herr  Pastor,"  replied  Gustav,  heartily,  "  you  are  an 
exception ;  you  belong  to  the  Old  Guard.  I've  never  for- 
gotten the  dressing  down  you  would  give  me  in  Sunday- 
school  when  I  made  eyes  at  the  girls.  That  won  my  ad- 
miration; it  was  practical  Christianity.  No,  no,  Mother, 
I'm  not  joking.  And  I  know  too,  Herr  Pastor,  that  your 
whole  income  goes  to  the  poor  and  sick  year  after  year. 
That  sort  of  practical  Christianity  is  rare  enough  among 
your  brethren  of  the  cloth." 

"  You  forget  that  I  have  no  family  to  claim  it." 

"  Among  the  clergy  the  word  family  should  have  a  far 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  131 

wider  meaning,  otherwise  they  are  not  true  spiritual  shep- 
herds. Theirs  is  the  one  calling  that  cannot  be  attained 
by  the  mere  passing  of  examinations.  Brotherly  love, 
with  discrimination,  and  self-sacrifice  are  essential  here. 
They  must  have  both  eyes  and  heart  for  the  greater  parish 
of  those  who  remain  at  home  and  are  accustomed  to  be 
overlooked — for  these  parishioners  as  well  as  for  the 
churchgoers ;  for  those  who  cannot  learn  faith  in  God, 
because  they  have  not  been  taught  faith  in  man.  Herr 
Pastor,  if  you  were  not  so  old  and  intimate  a  friend  of 
the  family,  I  would  not  allow  myself  to  talk  like  this.  But, 
believe  me,  one  learns  something  of  human  life  and  needs 
in  the  factory ;  there's  plenty  of  both  mental  and  physical 
want  to  be  seen  there.  The  younger  ministers  of  this 
valley  should  study  these  questions  thoroughly.  Not  in 
vestry  meetings  or  visits  to  the  pious  members  of  their 
flocks ;  they  must  learn  to  know  the  workingman's  house 
from  cellar  to  roof  before  they  can  understand  his  wants. 
Then  they'll  come  to  realize  the  worthlessness  of  mere 
sermons,  however  dramatic.  We  factory  owners  train 
these  human  beings  to  efficiency  as  workmen;  you  must 
educate  them  as  individuals.  Then  they  can  go  ahead  and 
make  themselves  into  saints  and  angels  without  anyone's 
help." 

Pastor  Schirrmacher  laughed  softly.  "  Did  I  really  ever 
have  you  for  a  Sunday-school  pupil?  "  He  grasped  Gus- 
tav's  hand  warmly.  "  I'm  proud  of  the  result,  even  though 
I  meet  you  so  seldom  nowadays.  But  what  you  say  about 
having  heart  and  eyes  for  the  '  greater  parish,'  my  dear 
son — that  is  indeed  right.  If  that  were  followed  up  and 
the  pastor  visited  with  less  regard  to  social  distinction, 
there  might  be  less  fear  of  the  growing  power  of  the 
1  Reds  '  and  Social  Democrats." 

"  If  you  really  approve  all  I've  said,  Herr  Pastor,  then 


132  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

I  must  drink  to  your  health.  Donnerwetter!  This  is  cof- 
fee; what  was  I  thinking  about?" 

"  I  would  not  object  to  pledging  you  in  a  glass  of  wine. 
What  do  you  say,  Father  Wiskotten?  " 

"  The  very  thing,  Herr  Pastor !  Mother,  give  us  some 
glasses. — No,  no,  my  gout  is  not  troubling  me  now,  I'm 
just  a  bit  under  the  weather." 

Frau  Wiskotten  brought  the  wine  glasses,  although  at 
heart  she  disapproved  the  sentiments  they  were  about 
to  toast.  She  could  not  do  it  without  an  apology  for  the 
free  speech  of  her  eldest  son.  "  I  don't  know  how  on  earth 
he  has  come  by  such  ideas.  He  never  used  to  give  a 
thought  to  such  things." 

"  Perhaps  I  do  now  because  of  Ewald — his  going  away. 
It  set  me  to  thinking." 

"  Have  you  heard  anything  from  him  since  his  arrival 
in  Diisseldorf?  "  said  the  pastor,  with  assumed  ease,  as 
he  raised  his  glass  to  his  lips.  He  waited  a  moment  for 
an  answer,  but  Frau  Wiskotten's  lips  remained  grimly 
pressed  together  and  she  gazed  straight  ahead,  as  if  she 
had  not  heard. 

"  I've  had  word  of  him  through  Kolsch,"  said  Gustav, 
when  he  saw  his  mother  would  not  answer.  "  The  son  of 
our  old  foreman  is  also  at  the  academy  in  Diisseldorf. 
He  has  written  that  Ewald  is  there  and  has  rented  rooms 
from  a  man  by  the  name  of  Zinters  in  the  Bolkerstrasse. 
He  seems  to  be  all  right  for  the  present." 

"  Then  there's  no  immediate  cause  for  worry  about 
him?" 

"Worry?  The  boy  is  a  Wiskotten.  Let  him  sow  his 
wild  oats,  and  when  the  last  handful  is  gone  he'll  come 
back  under  the  yoke  fast  enough." 

"  He  was  never  born  to  be  a  minister,"  said  the  pastor, 
shaking  his  head. 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  133 

"But  he  can  grow  to  be  a  fine  man,  nevertheless," 
laughed  Gustav.  "  He's  keen  and  resolute,  has  plenty  of 
'  go  '  in  him.  He's  proven  that." 

"  You're  very  fond  of  him." 

"  I'm  fond  of  anyone  who  has  plenty  of  '  go '  in  him. 
It's  good  material  to  start  with.  Besides,  though  we 
brothers  quarrel  among  each  other,  because  of  high  spir- 
its— perhaps  even  because  we  are  so  fond  of  each  other — 
we  present  an  unbroken  front  to  the  world.  All  for  each, 
each  for  all;  a  good  motto,  is  it  not?  " 

"  So  you  see,  my  dear  Gustav,  by  listening  to  you  I 
have  been  able  to  gain  something,  even  if  this  is  a  pre- 
tentious house  and  not  a  workingman's  cottage.  At  any 
rate,  this  has  been  a  very  enjoyable  chat.  I  must  be  go- 
ing; it's  six  o'clock  now.  May  you  continue  so  hale 
and  hearty,  Herr  Wiskotten,  and  may  God  keep  you  in 
your  present  contented  frame  of  mind !  Adieu,  dear  Frau 
Wiskotten !  Gustav,  you  must  come  and  smoke  a  pipe 
with  me  one  of  these  days." 

"  Now  it's  high  time  to  drag  William  out  of  bed !  "  said 
Gustav,  when  the  pastor  was  gone.  "  The  rascal  sleeps 
like  a  lord !  Well,  here  he  is  at  last." 

William  appeared  in  the  doorway,  freshly  shaved,  his 
English  side  whiskers  carefully  brushed,  and  wearing  a 
sack  suit  that  was  a  masterpiece  of  British  sartorial  art. 

"  Did  you  expect  us  to  shut  down  work  at  the  factory 
to  welcome  you?  "  jeered  Gustav;  but  he  shook  his  brother 
heartily  by  the  hand.  "  My,  but  you  look  as  if  you  had 
just  stepped  out  of  a  bandbox !  A  regular  dude !  Never 
mind,  we  can  stand  it  if  your  heart's  still  in  the  right 
place." 

"  Good  day,  Gustav !  "  Then,  greeting  his  parents,  he 
asked,  "  Will  there  be  something  to  eat  soon,  Mother?  " 

Frau  Wiskotten   raised  her  eyebrows,  but   the  genial 


134  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

old  father  cried:  "Yes,  youngster,  if  you  can  name  the 
meal.  What  shall  it  be,  breakfast,  dinner,  or  supper?  If 
you  say  so,  we'll  run  through  the  whole  programme  with 
you." 

"  Very  well,  all  together  in  the  form  of  a  beefsteak." 

"  Mother,  did  you  notice  his  English  accent?  It's  not 
time  for  them,  but  I  hear  the  others  coming  too." 

August,  Fritz,  and  Paul  Wiskotten  clattered  up  the 
steps  and  burst  into  the  room  together. 

"Is  William  up  yet?"  they  clamored,  not  waiting  to 
see.  "  Why,  hello,  William  !  Hello,  old  man !  How  goes 
it,  Englishman?"  "Blest  be  the  day,"  began  Fritz,  in 
a  shrill  falsetto  voice,  "  when  he  to  us  appears ; " 
and  the  others  responded,  "  bum-tara-bum-Jtara-bum-bum- 
bum." 

Old  Wiskotten  beamed  on  them,  the  mother  covered  her 
ears  and  fled  to  the  kitchen  to  order  immediate  beef- 
steaks. Meanwhile  the  brothers  sat  about  the  table  and 
plied  William  with  questions.  The  mother,  returning, 
protested :  "  The  boy  must  be  faint  with  hunger ;  leave 
him  alone." 

Fritz  shoved  the  decanter  of  red  wine  toward  him. 
"  Drink  out  of  the  bottle.  Boots  and  saddles  tootle-te- 
too !  tootle-te-too !  Ready  for  the  cavalry  charge !  " 

"You'll  make  him  drunk!" 

"  Never,  not  with  a  dozen  bottles  like  this!  Eh?  Old 
whiskey-and-soda  ?  Do  you  use  seltzer  even  to  brush  your 
teeth  with  now?" 

"  I  don't  see  how,"  said  William,  in  a  sepulchral  voice, 
"  you  can  manage  to  exist  here  without  the  least  notion  of 
good  manners." 

"  Good  manners !  You're  right,  Mother,  William  is 
drunk  already." 

"No,  I  mean  it,"   said  William.     "There  should  be 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  135 

some  difference  between  the  tone  of  a  private  residence 
and  a  public  tavern." 

"  Mother,  look  out,"  said  Gustav,  in  a  stage  whisper. 
"  William  must  be  about  to  invest  you  with  the  '  Order 
of  the  Garter.'  " 

"  You  should  be  ashamed  to  say  such  an  immodest  thing 
to  me,"  said  the  old  woman,  angrily. 

"  I'm  sure  of  it,  though !  And  he's  going  to  tell  Father 
that  he  has  been  made  a  peer  of  England." 

"  I  don't  understand  all  this  rigmarole ;  stop  talking 
nonsense ! " 

The  brothers  laughed,  even  August's  prim  mouth  re- 
laxed, but  almost  immediately  he  thumped  on  the  table 
for  order.  "  We  did  not  leave  the  factory  an  hour  earlier 
than  usual  to  crack  jokes,  but  to  hear  what  William 
has  to  tell  us.  It  would  not  hurt  any  of  you  to  be  a 
little  more  serious.  This  is  a  business  meeting  of  the 
firm." 

Silence  fell  on  the  group  about  the  table,  and  William 
commenced  his  report.  "  I  wrote  you  regularly,  told 
almost  all  there  was  to  tell.  At  first  it  was  the  usual 
thing,  underbidding  of  competitors  to  meet,  bickering  with 
agents,  demands  from  individual  buyers.  Then  August's 
telegram  came,  saying  that  a  strike  had  been  called  for 
the  following  day  in  the  whole  Wupper  valley;  that 
Gustav  had  given  a  fine  exhibition  of  muscular  strength 
and  had  thus  been  able  to  maintain  order ;  that  we  would 
consequently  be  the  only  ones  to  fill  orders  promptly, 
and  could  also  double  our  output  by  running  night  shifts. 
The  next  morning  I  took  a  carriage  and  spent  the  day 
visiting  each  and  every  one  of  our  customers,  showing 
them  the  telegram.  They  had  already  seen  the  news 
in  the  morning  papers  and  were  greatly  disturbed.  Of 
course  I  played  the  game  carefully,  to  appear  as  mag- 


136  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

nanimous  as  possible.  Our  machines  were  all  taxed  to  the 
limit,  but  to  accommodate  old  and  valued  customers  I 
would  take  their  orders;  the  small  fry  must  suffer  ac- 
cordingly; I  could  give  attention  to  and  guarantee  the 
delivery  of  large  orders  only — and  so  forth.  The  fact 
that  we  had  mastered  the  trouble  at  the  start  impressed 
them  most  favorably.  When  I  told  them  how  Gustav  had 
cracked  the  heads  of  the  ringleaders  and  agitators  to- 
gether until  they  were  all  split " 

"  But  Gustav  did  nothing  of  the  sort,"  protested  Frau 
Wiskotten. 

"  Certainly  he  did  not.  But  that's  what  I  told  them, 
nevertheless." 

"  That  was  very  wrong  of  you,  William." 

"But  how  about  the  orders  it  brought?  Were  they 
*  very  wrong  '  too?  " 

"  The  orders  were  well  enough,"  she  replied,  curtly. 

"Well,  that's  the  main  thing,  isn't  it?  The  London 
sales  agents  wired  to  their  various  Wupper  valley  houses 
for  news,  but  when  after  much  delay  the  wire  arrived, 
4  Strike  settled,  all  orders  can  be  filled  immediately,'  my 
pockets  were  already  filled  with  those  very  orders." 

"Your  health,  William!"  cried  old  Wiskotten,  in  a 
voice  filled  with  pride  and  happiness ;  never  had  wine  tasted 
better  to  him  than  at  that  moment. 

"  We're  safe  now,  at  least  till  Autumn,"  said  August, 
thoughtfully.  "  But  I  suppose  all  our  profits  will  be  sunk 
into  the  new  dye  works." 

"Our  new  dye  works  may  eat  up  profits,  but  it  will 
fairly  devour  work,  work,  work !  "  laughed  Gustav.  "  And 
what  then — what  else,  William?" 

"  Nothing,  except  that  we  must  get  out  some  novelty 
in  our  line,  cheap  but  pretty.  There's  where  the  money 
is  made." 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  137 

"  Cheap — and  pretty.  That's  the  idea,  but  it  is  easier 
said  than  done." 

"  Fritz  wrote  me  the  other  day  about  a  new  saddle  horse 
he  was  looking  at  for  the  Autumn  maneuvers.  I  know 
him  well  enough  to  hazard  a  guess  that  he  has  succeeded 
with  some  new  experiment." 

All  eyes  were  turned  inquiringly  toward  Fritz,  who 
seemed  greatly  embarrassed  and  stroked  his  mustache 
nervously.  It  was  easy  to  see  that  he  had  something  of 
importance  to  tell  them.  For  a  tense  moment  the  at- 
mosphere of  their  beloved  factory  seemed  to  descend  and 
envelop  them ;  even  here  the  air  seemed  to  vibrate  with  the 
clatter  of  the  looms,  the  whirring  of  the  spools,  and  the 
puffing  steam  of  the  vats.  Gustav  broke  the  spell  with  a 
word — "  Fritz !  " 

Fritz  rose  abruptly  and  began  to  pace  the  room.  Then, 
shoving  a  chair  between  those  of  his  father  and  eldest 
brother,  he  drew  something  from  his  breast  pocket.  "  To- 
day I  finished  the  experimental  work.  To  celebrate  Wil- 
liam's return  I'll  tell  you  about  it  now.  Look  at  this, 
Father.  What  is  it?  " 

Father  Wiskotten  examined  the  skein  of  yarn.  "  Cot- 
ton!" 

"And  this  one?" 

"  Silk !  No — Donnerwetter — it's  cotton  too !  Ach! 
I'm  bewildered !  Tell  me,  is  it  silk  or  cotton?  " 

"  It  is  cotton,  Father." 

The  brothers  drew  closer  and  craned  their  necks,  their 
breath  came  in  excited  gasps.  Then  August  Wiskotten 
rose,  went  to  the  door,  and  turned  the  key.  The  magic 
skein  now  passed  from  hand  to  hand. 

"  Go  on,  tell  us  about  it,  Fritz !  " 

"  Well,  if  even  Father's  experienced  eyes  can  be  de- 
ceived for  a  moment,"  he  said,  with  a  satisfied  sigh,  "  then 


138  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

I  must  have  succeeded.  You  see,  I  dye  the  yarn  itself  be- 
fore it  is  made  up.  A  finish  like  this  has  been  laid  on 
finished  goods  successfully — the  idea  is  not  new.  But  until 
now  no  one  has  succeeded  with  ribbons,  where  all  the 
dyeing  must  be  done  before  the  material  is  worked  up. 
Now  look  at  this."  He  drew  a  piece  of  ribbon  from  his 
pocket.  "  Last  night  I  made  this  on  the  sample  loom." 

The  old  man  examined  it  eagerly,  then  it  passed  from 
hand  to  hand.  "Boy,  boy,  chemistry  is  a  marvelous 
thing !  "  he  cried. 

"Yes,  indeed,  Father.  But  this  is  not  the  result  of 
those  few  semesters  in  Freiburg;  they  are  necessary,  but 
the  love  of  it  all  is  an  inheritance  from  you." 

"  And  from  your  mother ! " 

The  old  woman  had  been  rubbing  the  sample  between 
her  fingers  in  silence.  Now  she  looked  up.  "  Gustav,  you 
were  right  after  all,  in  your  haste  to  build  the  new  dye 
works." 

"  Do  you  think  it  is  a  success,  Mother?  " 

"  This  is  the  best  article  of  the  kind  ever  seen  in  the 
Wupper  valley.  The  question  of  additional  cost  remains." 

"  No  more  than  ordinary  cotton — at  most  only  a  few 
cents.  It's  just  a  trick  with  chemicals.  The  difficulty 
was  to  get  it  just  right.  It  took  a  deal  of  experimenting 
before  I  succeeded." 

Gustav  rose  in  great  excitement.  "  Come,  Fritz,  we 
must  go  to  the  laboratory  at  once."  August  started  up 
at  this,  his  usually  pale  face  flushed.  "  You  must  show 
us  at  once  how  it  is  done." 

"To  the  factory?  Again?  No,  indeed,  my  children! 
Every  laborer  is  worthy  of  his  hire.  Tomorrow  is  time 
enough." 

"  Man ! "  cried  Gustav,  shaking  him  by  the  shoulders. 
"  You're  not  so  tired  as  all  that !  Forward ! " 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  139 

"  Haven't  you  a  spark  of  business  spirit?  "  thundered 
August,  stirred  out  of  his  usual  calm. 

"  Have  you  all  gone  crazy?  "  cried  the  young  inventor. 

"  Forward,  march  to  the  factory !  "  boomed  Gustav. 

"  Don't  shout  so,"  chimed  in  William,  looking  his  dis- 
pleasure. "  You  act  like  wild  men." 

"  What  on  earth  do  you  mean  by  your  confounded 
superior  airs  ?  It's  laughable !  " 

"  I  tell  you  it  cannot  be  done  tonight,"  put  in  Fritz. 
"  You'll  have  to  wait  till  morning.  I  shall  have  to  make 
up  the  preparation  then  and  Father  can  have  the  pleas- 
ure of  seeing  the  whole  process  with  you." 

"  Very  well,  if  you  require  time.  I  suppose  we  must 
not  be  too  impatient.  Then  the  disappointment  vanished 
in  an  outburst  of  congratulation.  "  Deuce  take  it  all ! 
Himmel  Herr  Gott!  You  old  Swede !  " — laying  violent 
hands  on  Fritz  at  every  exclamation. 

The  maid  knocked  at  the  bolted  door  and  was  allowed 
to  enter  with  the  supper.  "  I'll  eat  with  you  tonight," 
said  Gustav.  "  Emily  is  at  her  father's."  Despite  the 
excitement  they  fell  to  heartily  and  devoured  the  supper 
to  the  last  crumb. 

"  You  eat  like  harvest  hands,"  said  William,  in  a  critical 
tone.  "  I'll  be  ashamed  of  you  all  when " 

"  When  what  ?    Englishman !  " 

"  When  my  fiancee  arrives." 

"Wh-a-at!" 

The  chairs  crashed  back  against  the  wall  as  the  brothers 
rose  in  astonishment. 

"  You're  a  stupid-looking  lot  with  all  your  mouths 
open,"  he  jeered. 

"  You  are — engaged?  "  said  Frau  Wiskotten,  reproach- 
fully. 

"  I  have  been  for  a  whole  day.     Is  that  a  crime?     I 


140  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

herewith  announce  with  all  formality  my  betrothal  to  Miss 
Mabel  White,  daughter  of  our  chief  London  customer." 

"  Oh !  "  came  in  mock  respectful  chorus. 

"  Your  parents  should  be  the  first  to  be  told." 

"But  I  have  just  told  you,  Mother.  Miss  White  is 
sure  to  please  you.  She  is  planning  to  visit  you  this 
Summer." 

"  How  shall  I  ever  get  on  with  a  foreign  daughter-in- 
law  ?  I  cannot  even  talk  to  her ! " 

"  Her  mother  was  a  German  from  Remscheid,  nee  Anna 
Winkelmann." 

Their  astonishment  was  subsiding  now,  giving  place 
to  pleasure  as  they  realized  that  the  girl  William  had  won 
was  the  daughter  of  an  important  man  in  the  business 
world. 

"William  has  given  another  proof  that  he  makes  the 
most  of  his  opportunities,"  said  August,  voicing  the  gen- 
eral verdict. 

Until  ten  o'clock  they  continued  to  question  William 
about  his  fiancee.  She  was  a  paragon,  tall,  slender,  chic, 
a  notable  horsewoman  in  a  country  where  many  women 
rode  well,  etc. 

Gustav  had  listened  in  silence,  visualizing  hungrily  the 
vivacious,  charming  young  foreigner  who  was  soon  to  be 
among  them — a  daily  joy  to  the  husband  of  her  choice 
with  her  manifold  graces.  A  gnawing  envy  filled  him, 
but  with  an  effort  he  banished  these  tantalizing  visions 
and  stealthily  wiped  his  eyes.  But  the  others  had  seen 
and  understood,  with  the  quick  sympathy  that  was  between 
them  all,  and  as  he  rose  to  go  they  followed  him. 

"Where  are  you  all  going?  It's  bedtime!"  cried  the 
mother. 

"  We're  going  to  see  Gustav  home.  He  needs  company 
tonight." 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  141 

They  trooped  along  the  quiet  streets  to  Abraham 
Schulte's  inn,  laughing  and  jesting  boisterously,  as  if  they 
were  sole  masters  of  the  sleeping  town.  Paul  suddenly 
recalled  that  their  fellowship  was  incomplete.  "  It's  too 
bed  Ewald  is  not  here." 

"  Have  you  news  of  him  ?  " 

"  He  returned  the  money  I  sent  him." 

"  Good  for  him !  I'm  proud  of  his  spirit !  Good  even- 
ing, Abraham." 

"  When  God  wants  to  send  down  a  plague  on  one  he 
thinks  of  the  Wiskottens ;  gentlemen,  could  you  not  give 
someone  else  the  pleasure  of  your  company?  " 

"  Bring  on  your  beer." 

"  Let  the  old  Falstaff  have  his  say.  The  ox  that  does 
your  threshing  should  be  free  to  bellow." 

"  Pleasant  young  man  !    Beer !  " 

"  Is  she  a  high-stepper,  William?  " 

"  Mabel?     She'll  lead  you  all  a  merry  pace." 

August  nudged  Gustav.    "  Wake  up,  Gustav." 

He  looked  about  dazedly,  thumped  his  glass  on  the 
table,  and  began  to  sing  wildly: 

"  An  der  Gartentii-a-iir 
Hat  mein  Mddclien  mi-a-ir 
Sanft  die  Hand  gedruckt" 

And  joyously,  sentimentally,  with  abandon,  the  chorus  re- 
sponded, as  if  the  singing  of  that  one  song  were  the  sole 
object  of  life. 

"  0  wie  ward  mir  da-o-a 
Als  mir  das  gescha-o-ah, 
Als  mein  Madchen  mi-a-ir 
Sanft  die  Hand  gedriickt " 


CHAPTER  VIII 

THE  trees  of  Diisseldorf  had  burst  into  a  riot  of  bloom. 
The  sweet,  heavy  scent  of  their  blossoms  was  wafted  across 
the  Rhine  from  park  and  garden,  to  mingle  with  the  tarry 
smell  of  shipping,  and  make  many  a  dreamy  young  helms- 
man sniff  longingly  and  think  for  a  moment  his  dreams 
of  sailing  among  distant  tropic  isles  had  come  true. 
Ewald  Wiskotten  sat  working  in  one  of  the  art  classes 
of  the  Academy,  drearily  sketching  the  outline  of  a  plaster 
cast  before  him.  The  luring  scent-laden  breeze  reached 
him  through  the  open  window  nearby,  but  the  continual 
working  doggedly  pursued  him.  The  outline  finished, 
he  raised  a  weary  hand,  using  his  crayon  as  a  measure 
to  judge  if  his  proportions  were  correct.  Then  he  began 
to  lay  in  the  light  and  shade. 

But  the  professor  who  had  been  standing  behind  him 
for  the  last  half  minute  now  dashed  in  a  few  condemnatory 
strokes  by  way  of  criticism,  and  passed  on  with  a  curt 
phrase  of  disapproval.  "  What  does  this  squinting  cari- 
cature represent — yourself  or  the  model?  I  think  it  must 
be  you,  for  I  see  no  resemblance  to  the  other." 

As  soon  as  he  had  passed  on  Ewald  erased  the  correc- 
tions angrily,  drew  a  guiding  line  from  the  root  of  the 
nose  to  its  base,  and  sketched  in  the  eyes  correctly. 
Then,  with  the  last  flicker  of  the  "  divine  spark  "  extin- 
guished in  him  for  that  day,  he  turned  to  answer  the  call 
of  the  Spring  scents.  He  leaned  out  of  the  window, 
drinking  in  the  magic  of  the  sunlight ;  below  him,  on  the 
banks  of  the  Rhine,  he  saw  that  the  first  bathhouse  of  the 
142 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  143 

season  was  open.  For  weeks  his  limbs  had  been  heavy  with 
a  lassitude  that  he  had  not  even  the  will  to  shake  off. 
Now  the  broad,  sparkling  river  called,  commanded  him, 
with  promise  of  refreshment.  He  flung  his  materials  to- 
gether and  fairly  ran  from  the  hall.  Two  fellow  students 
looked  up  and  laughed. 

"  Well,  Longlegs,  are  you  taking  to  your  heels  ?  " 

"  The  fellow's  so  thin  one  might  think  that  Apollo  had 
taken  him  for  Marsayas  and  flayed  him." 

"  Oh,  no,  it's  the  other  way  round ! — He  has  flayed 
Apollo — just  look  at  the  sketch  of  him." 

Raging  inwardly  he  hurried  on,  breathing  more  freely 
when  he  had  left  the  hateful  building  behind.  At  the  bath- 
house he  flung  down  his  money,  stalked  into  his  room, 
threw  off  his  clothes  as  if  they  suffocated  him,  and  sprang 
headlong  into  the  water. 

"  Look  sharp  there,  Hendrick,"  laughed  the  manager, 
to  the  lifesaver,  "  there's  a  suicide  for  you !  " 

"  Say,  young  fellow,  don't  scare  all  the  fish  away. 
You  must  let  them  become  accustomed  to  your  looks  by 
degrees." 

Ewald  came  up  sputtering.  "  Muttonhead !  "  he  cried, 
and  dove  again. 

"  What  did  he  say?  I  believe  he  had  the  impudence  to 
call  me  names." 

"  No,  he  merely  recognized  you,  Hendrick.  That's  no 
suicide;  he's  far  too  bright." 

"  Perhaps  I  was  not  the  one  he  recognized.  There  are 
other " 

Ewald  collided  suddenly  with  another  swimmer. 
"  Hoop-la ! "  he  cried,  without  stopping  to  apologize. 

"  I'll  '  hoop-la  '  you.     Are  the  police  after  you?  " 

Ewald  turned  angrily,  raising  head  and  shoulders  above 
the  water—"  Insolent " 


144  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

"What?" 

Paddling  against  the  current,  they  eyed  each  other. 
"  Donnerkiel! "  cried  the  newcomer.  Why,  it's  Ewald 
Wiskotten." 

"  Ernst  Kolsch !  I  did  not  recognize  you  under  that 
wet  thatch  of  hair." 

"  You  left  your  mark  on  me,  however.  Boy,  you  must 
have  left  off  your  flesh  in  the  bathhouse,  for  when  you 
struck  it  was  like  running  into  a  bag  of  bones." 

"  Have  I  gotten  as  thin  as  that,  so  that  everyone  no- 
tices it?  You're  the  second  today  to  make  such  a 
remark." 

"  If  I  were  you  I'd  get  an  English  sack  suit,  or  some 
other  baggy  clothes." 

"  But  really,  joking  aside,  I  feel  quite  well." 

"  I'm  glad  of  that,"  replied  the  other,  curtly,  and  fell 
to  swimming  on  his  back.  "  Anna  has  been  visiting  me. 
Why,  you  don't  say?  Well,  to  mend  my  clothes — and  how 
shall  I  put  it? — my  manners  and  my  morals.  She  found 
both  in  need  of  her  care.  Sent  her  greetings  to  you. 
Brrr!  I'm  getting  goose  flesh.  The  water's  still  plagued 
cold.  Come  on  out." 

As  they  walked  side  by  side  to  their  bathhouse  Ernst 
looked  over  his  old  playfellow  searchingly.  The  contrast 
was  strong  with  his  own  robust  physique,  but  he  made 
no  comment.  After  rubbing  down  and  dressing  they 
sauntered  through  the  streets  and  gardens  together;  at 
the  corner  of  the  Alleestrasse,  Ewald  started  to  leave  his 
companion. 

"  What  are  you  going  to  do?     Work?  " 

"  I'm  going  to  eat  at  Zinters',  and  they  are  very 
punctual." 

"Are  you  so  afraid  as  that  of  your  landlord?  It's  a 
bad  habit.  You  must  both  unlearn  it." 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  145 

"  But  I  have  to  show  him  some  consideration " 

"  So-o !  I  understand.  Behind  with  your  rent.  Well, 
if  my  name  was  Wiskotten." 

"What  then?" 

"  Why,  the  name  is  as  good  as  cash.  I'd  trade  on  it 
for  credit." 

Ewald  frowned.  His  pale,  young  face  clouded  and 
seemed  to  age.  "  My  share  of  the  family  name  is 
all  I  can  trade  on  and  that  is  worthless.  At  least,  at 
present." 

His  companion  winked.  "  Well,  you  don't  look  exactly 
like  a  millionaire,  it's  true.  At  least,  you  might  go  to 
a  decent  tailor." 

"  If  my  looks  don't  suit  you,  you  don't  have  to  go 
about  with  me." 

"Don't  talk  like  that.  This  is  not  the  Wiskotten 
factory." 

"  Adieu,"  said  Ewald,  curtly,  and  strode  away  with 
his  chin  in  the  air. 

Ernst  Kolsch  hesitated  a  moment,  then  generosity  and 
sympathy  won  the  day,  and  he  ran  after  Ewald.  "  Oh, 
Ewald !  " 

"What  do  you  want?" 

"  To  ask  if  you  won't  eat  your  midday  meal  with  me 
today.  I'm  going  to  the  Schmitz  wine  rooms ;  you'll  find 
it  great." 

"  I  cannot  let  anyone  else  pay  my  way." 

"  Man,  I've  sold  a  picture." 

"  What !  "  He  whirled  and  faced  his  friend.  "  Really  ? 
Tell  me  about  it ;  what  picture  ?  And  to  whom  ?  Hurrah, 
Ernst !  The  sons  of  the  Wupper  are  coming  to  the  front. 
What  was  the  picture,  I  say?  " 

Ernst  flicked  an  invisible  speck  from  his  sleeve  before 
answering.  The  foreman's  son  in  his  fashionable  clothes 


146  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

was  a  strange  contrast  to  the  shabby  son  of  his  father's 
employer.  "What  was  the  picture?"  he  said,  with  as- 
sumed nonchalance.  "  Feast " 

«  Of  Plato?" 

"  No,  of  Bacchus.  What  interest  in  philosophy  has 
Schmitz?  None,  except  that  of  Omar,  perhaps." 

"  None — Schmitz  bought  it?  The  owner  of  the  place 
where  we're  going  now?  " 

"  That's  it.  We  don't  go  exactly  by  invitation,  you 
know.  I  pay  my  way  like  everyone  else.  So  when  I'm 
hungry  and  have  no  money  I  pay — with  paint." 

"  Is  this  Schmitz  a  picture  dealer,  then  ?  " 

"No,  he's  a  wine  shop  keeper.  He  was  ambitious  for 
a  unique  public  room.  So  I'm  covering  his  walls  for  him 
pen  a  pen,  as  his  bill  clamors  for  it.  In  the  end,  of 
course,  I'll  have  to  find  another  eating  place.  Well,  what 
are  you  gaping  at?  The  most  popular  drinking  places 
in  Diisseldorf  are  all  painted  in  this  fashion,  to  the  mutual 
contentment  of  Macenas  innkeepers  and  artist  patrons." 

"  What  was  your  subject?  " 

"  I  painted  a  well-known  army  officer  as  Bacchus ;  a 
pair  of  local  beauties  teasing  a  panther  with  bunches  of 
grapes  that  the  god  has  flung  to  them;  and  a  stout  pater 
familias  who  frequents  the  place  was  my  unconscious  model 
for  Silenus." 

"  But  won't  these  people  recognize  themselves  ?  " 

"  No  danger.  I  painted  the  lot  of  them  nude.  Thus 
they  belong  to  mythology." 

"  I'll  certainly  have  to  go  there  with  you  now," 
laughed  Ewald.  All  his  anger  had  fled,  and  with  it  the 
depression  of  the  morning.  An  exalted  mood  possessed 
him— up  with  Art,  down  with  the  Philistines,  it  is  a  day 
of  joyous  sunlight  and  merry  moods.  He  had  been  stray- 
ing miserably  in  a  gray  fog,  unhappy  and  fettered  with 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  147 

lassitude.  Meanwhile  his  childhood  friend  had  been 
sporting  in  the  sun,  light-hearted  and  full  of  self-confi- 
dence. 

"  You've  found  the  key,  Ernst !  Tell  me  how  I  may 
do  it  too !  " 

"  You  have  only  to  be  able  to  do  something  that  others 
want,"  said  Ernst,  with  a  worldly-wise  shrug. 

At  the  wine  rooms  Ewald  admired  the  wall  paintings 
greatly.  "  Speak  up,"  whispered  Ernst  to  him.  At  that 
Ewald  loudly  voiced  the  opinion  that  no  one  in  all  Diissel- 
dorf  had  the  ability  to  duplicate  these  paintings,  not  even 
Professor  Janssen,  the  academy  director. 

"You're  doubtless  a  connoisseur?"  queried  the  inn- 
keeper. "  Indeed,  you  have  the  air  of  one." 

"  I  am  myself  a  painter,"  answered  the  lad,  proudly. 
"  But  one  cannot  indulge  in  envy  before  such  a  work  as 
this." 

At  that  the  flattered  innkeeper  willingly  allowed  Ernst 
to  extend  his  hospitality  to  his  friend,  even  to  the  extent 
of  a  first  and  then  a  second  botle  of  "  Kupferberg  Gold." 
The  champagne  exhilarated  Ewald ;  the  blood  flowed  glow- 
ingly through  his  veins  and  he  saw  through  a  rosy  mist. 
Soon  his  mood  became  grandiose.  "  It  is  a  shame  and  a 
scandal  how  we  have  to  drudge  in  the  Academy.  I've  been 
sitting  a  whole  semester  before  the  same  plaster  cast  of 
Apollo.  We  sketch  him  full-face,  then  profile,  side  view, 
back  view.  Even  the  most  ideal  subject  would  grow  tire- 
some and  hateful." 

"  Scold  away  if  it  makes  you  feel  any  better." 

"Don't  you  think  I'm  right?  They  ought  to  let  me 
do  something  original  once  in  a  while.  Then  I'd  show 
them!" 

"What?" 

"  Achl  something  alive,  different!     Something,  I  tell 


148  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

you,  that  no  one  has  ever  done  before.  You've  already 
accomplished  what  I'm  waiting  to  do." 

"I?    What  can  you  know  of  my  work?  " 

"  Well— this  Bacchus  here." 

"  That  daub  cannot  enter  into  the  discussion.  Why 
that's  a  joke,  fit  only  for  the  wastebasket.  My  time  has 
not  yet  arrived ;  I'm  still  waiting,  marking  time." 

"But  what  on  earth  are  you  waiting  for?  If  I  could 
do  that " 

"  I'm  waiting  for  greater  poise,  assurance.  My  life 
has  been  lacking  so  far  in  the  extremes  of  joy  and  sor- 
row. I  have  not  yet  heard  the  triumphal  shout  of  Life — 
or  of  Death." 

Ewald  emptied  his  glass  at  one  gulp.  "  No,"  he  cried, 
"  we  must  not  wait !  We  must  go  forth  to  the  field  of 
action  and  commence  playing  our  roles.  These  eternal 
years  of  study  sap  our  energies." 

"  Only  the  energies  of  those  who  have  not  enough.  No, 
my  boy,  this  is  the  forcing  period  of  our  talents,  the 
period  of  training  and  probation.  Had  you  started  to 
become  a  merchant  you  would  now — and  for  three  years 
to  come — be  sitting  over  account  books ;  not  trading  in 
the  world's  marts.  I  see  the  whole  thing  in  a  different 
light.  This  superficial  skill  with  the  hands  is  something 
to  be  learned — to  become  your  personal  property.  The 
use  you  make  of  it  depends  on  the  real  ability  and  under- 
standing that  you  have  been  developing  meanwhile.  My 
own  type  is  not  yet  clearly  defined.  Meanwhile  I  fill  the 
interval  with  daubs.  Later  I  hope  to  do  really  good 
work." 

"  But  there  are  some  people  whose  understanding  de- 
velops earlier,"  insisted  the  younger  lad. 

"  Or  perhaps  their  arrogance,  a  thing  that  can  ruin  the 
best  years  of  youth." 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  149 

"Yours  is  a  sluggard's  philosophy." 

"  It  is  not  without  its  merits,  however,"  laughed  Ernst, 
raising  his  glass.  "  For  instance,  my  father  never  tasted 
such  wine  as  this  in  his  youth.  Neither  did  yours.  Who 
knows  if  we  shall  have  the  chance  to  drink  it  later. 
Therefore,  let  us  enjoy  our  youth;  it  will  never  return! 
Your  health,  young  fanatic !  " 

"  We've  just  been  given  the  task  of  an  original  com- 
position. For  the  next  few  days  I'll  stay  at  home  and 
work  on  it.  After  that  I  may  follow  your  advice.  Now 
I'must  go  home  and  give  all  my  time  to  it." 

"  Don't  tire  your  poor  brains  over  it  in  that  fashion. 
Ideas  must  come  like  birds  of  passage;  the  mind  cannot 
be  put  in  a  vise  and  have  ideas  wrung  from  it  by  sheer 
pressure." 

"  Will  you  come  next  Saturday  and  take  a  look  at  my 
work?" 

"  If  it  gives  you  any  satisfaction.  But  your  waste- 
paper  basket  may  prove  quite  as  good  a  friend  and  coun- 
selor with  this  first  attempt." 

"  Please  be  serious,  Ernst ! "  Then  with  a  vehement 
enthusiasm  born  of  excitement  and  champagne :  "  Listen ! 
I  have  an  idea  now." 

But  the  other  silenced  him.  "  Tell  it  to  your  sketch- 
book ;  it  has  a  prior  claim.  My  turn  will  come  soon 
enough." 

"  Don't  talk  like  that !  I'll  make  you  think  otherwise 
on  Saturday." 

"  I  wish  you  luck.     Shall  we  have  another  bottle?  " 

"  No,  I've  had  enough.  I'm  just  in  the  right  mood 
and  must  take  advantage  of  it.  Adieu,  Ernst !  Many 
thanks." 

"  Oh,  Ewald — how — on  what — are  you  living?  My  ship 
came  home  with  Anna  aboard  yesterday,  and  I'm  actually 


150  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

going  about  in  fear  of  pickpockets.  Look,  here's  a  brand- 
new  hundred-mark  bill  I  don't  know  what  to  do  with." 

"  Did — Anna — tell  you  to  give  it  to  me  ?  " 

"  What  a  notion ;  you've  had  too  much  wine,  my  boy ! 
Anna?  Of  course  not." 

"  I — I — yes,  that  was  foolish  of  me — but  don't  tell  her. 
I  could  really  use  it  just  now.  Zinters  is  becoming  diffi- 
cult. I  thank  you,  Ernst." 

With  a  hasty  adieu  he  left  his  companion  in  a  state 
of  high  excitement.  At  the  first  cigar  store  he  bought 
himself  some  tobacco  and  had  the  bill  changed,  holding 
the  gold  and  silver  in  his  feverish  hand  to  assure  himself 
that  they  were  solid  realities.  Zinters'  was  now  his  goal. 
Old  Zinters  had  for  many  years  been  an  independent  skip- 
per on  the  Rhine  between  Diisseldorf  and  Holland.  After 
retirement  he  had  opened  a  small  wine  shop  in  Diisseldorf, 
where  his  former  shipmates  and  cronies  came  for  a  glass 
of  smuggled  Holland  gin,  a  long  pipe,  and  a  friendly  game 
of  "  skat."  The  very  men  who  smuggled  his  liquor  to  him 
were  his  chiefest  patrons. 

When  Ewald  entered  the  smoke-darkened  room  it  was 
apparently  empty,  but  at  the  sound  of  his  step  the  inn- 
keeper raised  his  head  from  the  counter  where  he  had  been 
napping. 

"What  a  racket!  I  expected  to  see  some  very  im- 
portant person ! "  he  growled  surlily  as  he  recognized  his 
tenant. 

"  Herr  Zinters,  I  owe  you  money " 

"  Aha !  So  you  realize  that !  It  has  been  on  my  mind 
lately  too." 

"  Here  are  seventy-five  marks,  Herr  Zinters.  I  am  not 
in  a  position  to  pay  you  regularly.  But  the  money  is 
safe  enough,  with  interest — if  you  wish.  Only  I  must 
be  left  in  peace  about  it." 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  151 

The  old  man  stroked  his  beard,  blinking  greedily  at 
the  money.  Then  he  swooped  it  up  in  a  heap  and  dropped 
it  into  the  cash  drawer. — "  Oh,  very  well,  if  you're  that 
sure  of  your  prospects — I  was  about  to  give  you  notice." 

"  Notice !  "  Ewald  ran  his  hand  nervously  through  his 
long  hair.  The  word  had  shocked  him  in  his  exalted 
mood,  flung  him  harshly  against  the  facts  of  life,  and  in 
a  startled  attempt  at  self-preservation  he  involuntarily 
followed  the  very  advice  Ernst  had  given  him  a  few  hours 
ago  and  he  had  so  scornfully  received.  "  Give  me 
notice?  Why,  the  name  of  Wiskotten  is  as  good  as 
cash." 

"  Certainly,  young  sir,  if  there  is  plenty  of  cash  be- 
hind it." 

"  Our  factory  employs  three  hundred  men ! " 

"  Donnerkiel!  "  Sly  shrewdness  gave  place  to  blank 
astonishment  on  the  old  man's  face.  "How  many? 

Three He  reached  involuntarily  toward  the  array 

of  bottles  before  him.     "  I  think  a  little  stimulant  would 
be  good  for  both  of  us." 

Ewald  accepted  a  glass  of  spirits,  but  already  he  was 
filled  with  shame.  He  set  the  glass  down  heavily  and 
turned  to  go  to  his  room. 

.  "  I'll  send  Gretchen  up  at  once  with  the  receipt,"  Zin- 
ters  called  after  him.     "  Adieu,  Herr  Wiskotten." 

He  reached  his  garret  room  in  a  white  rage  at  himself. 
He  had  broken  faith  with  his  pride,  boasted  of  his  family 
instead  of  standing  on  his  own  feet.  But  even  in  the 
midst  of  his  angry  humiliation  he  felt  a  certain  glow  of 
pride,  pride  in  the  family  name  that  commanded  respect 
from  strangers.  Very  well,  then,  he  was  a  Wiskotten — 
he  would  show  them.  He  flung  off  his  coat  and  set  to 
work,  still  in  a  fine  glow  from  the  champagne  and  spirits. 
A  knock  at  the  door.  "  Come  in ! "  and  Gretchen  ap- 


152  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

peared  with  the  receipt.  "  We  are  greatly  obliged  to 
you.  Is  there  anything  you  wish?" 

"  No,  thank  you,  I'm  quite  comfortable." 

The  girl  fixed  her  large,  dark  eyes  on  him  with  a  look 
of  interest.  Ewald  flushed  under  the  scrutiny.  For  the 
first  time  he  felt  the  charm  of  this  slender  young  creature, 
and  his  embarrassment  increased  painfully.  The  pulses 
in  his  temples  began  to  pound,  and  it  was  of  no 
avail  that  he  silently  rated  himself  "  you  fool."  With  a 
boldness  born  of  desperation  he  stammered,  "  Fraulein 
Gretchen " 

"Yes?" 

"  You  are — very  beautiful." 

"Well?" 

"  I  should  like  to  paint  you." 

"  What  a  crazy  idea !  " 

"  Well,  if  you  won't  let  me  paint  you — can  I  have — a — 
kiss?" 

She  tossed  her  head,  but  made  no  move  to  go. 

Emboldened,  he  drew  nearer  and  took  her  in  his  arms, 
his  face  pale  and  tense  with  his  new  emotion.  Through 
her  dress  he  felt  the  pulsing  of  her  warm  young  blood. 
"  Gretchen ! "  he  cried,  pressing  his  hungry  lips  to  hers. 
For  an  instant  she  lay  passive  in  his  arms,  then  freed 
herself  abruptly. 

"Gretchen,  are  you  angry?  Ah,  Gretchen "  he 

stammered. 

She  pouted. 

"But,  Gretchen!" 

"You're  too  free  and  easy — as  though  you  thought 
me  and  every  other  girl  easy  to  kiss." 

"  But — I'm  not  so  conceited  as  all  that.  I'm  no  Prince 
Charming." 

"  But  you  are  one  of  the  rich  Wiskottens !  " 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  153 

"  How  in  the  world  did  you  find  that  out  ?  "  he  cried,  in 
amazement, 

"  Achl  one  can  see  you  belong  to  a  good  family  by 
just  looking  at  you." 

He  laughed  happily  at  that  and  tried  to  kiss  her  again. 
This  time  she  was  not  so  compliant  and  he  only  succeeded 
after  a  brisk  chase.  Even  then  she  denied  him  her  lips. 
"  Hush !  "  she  cried.  "  I'll  be  back !  I  must  see  if  father  is 
still  asleep." 

He  stood  looking  after  her,  vibrant  with  emotion. 
Flinging  his  arms  wide  as  if  to  embrace  the  universe,  he 
cried  again  and  again :  "  This  is  something  wonderful ! 
Wonderful !  "  He  wanted  to  sing,  to  laugh,  to  fly  out  into 
space  on  the  wings  of  this  great  unknown  "joy  of  life" 
—"Gott!  Gott!" 

She  reappeared,  finger  on  lips,  closing  the  door  noise- 
lessly behind  her.  "  Sit  down !  "  she  commanded.  "  You 
must  behave  properly  or  I'll  go." 

He  sat  down  beside  her,  his  arm  about  her  waist,  but 
she  moved  away  until  only  the  tips  of  his  fingers  touched 
her.  "  Don't  be  so  silly,  that's  not  the  way  to  behave." 

He  bent  toward  her,  eagerly  drinking  in  her  beauty 
as  if  he  saw  her  now  for  the  first  time.  At  last  he  said 
softly:  "  Your  hair  is  black  as  jet." 

"  I've  known  that  a  long  time,  silly." 

"  So  are  your  eyes,  and  there  are  flickering  lights  in 
them  like  fireflies  in  a  summer  night." 

"  Now,  you're  getting  really  poetic." 

"And  what  a  very  aristocratic  little  nose,  with  sensi- 
tive, quivering  nostrils ! " 

She  smiled,  well  pleased. 

"  And  a  mouth  like  a  scarlet  poppy." 

"  I  get  that  from  my  mother." 

"Was  she  as  beautiful  as  you,  Gretchen?" 


154  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

The  girl's  eyes  glowed.  "Father  met  her  at  Rotter- 
dam, when  he  used  to  make  his  trips  on  the  Rhine.  She 
was  the  '  star '  there  in  one  of  the  best  music  halls.  If 
she  had  lived  I  would  never  have  had  to  help  father  here. 
She  would  have  let  me  become  an  actress  or  singer — as  I 
want  to." 

"Do  you?" 

"Indeed  I  do!" 

"Why?" 

She  closed  her  eyes  and  sighed. 

"  Look  at  me ! "  he  cried,  and  they  gazed  at  each  other 
hungrily,  as  though  they  were  the  only  two  living  crea- 
tures in  existence.  A  laugh  broke  the  tension  and  the 
youth  drew  her  to  him,  although  his  eyes  were  blinded  by 
strange,  dazzling  flashes  of  light  that  seemed  to  shoot 
from  the  wide,  black  pupils  of  the  girl  who  faced  him. 
He  grasped  her  almost  fiercely,  and  they  kissed  until  both 
were  breathless.  She  no  longer  resisted,  but  answered 
the  hot,  sudden  kisses  again,  until  neither  knew  who  gave 
and  who  took. 

Suddenly  she  raised  herself  on  tiptoes  and  bit  him 
sharply  on  the  ear.  "  Little  Wild  Cat !  "  he  cried.  But 
it  was  only  a  piquant  interlude,  and  they  were  at  their 
kissing  again. 

"  Gretchen,  oh,  Gretchen !  " 

«  Ewald " 

"  Now  I  have  a  sweetheart." 

"  No,  you're  too  young  for  that." 

"I?    In  another  year  I'll  be  of  age." 

"  Then  your  parents  will  have  to  give  you  your  share." 

"We-11, — I  don't  know  about  that,"  he  murmured, 
uncertainly.  "  But  I'll  make  a  fortune  for  us  myself. 
I'm  going  to  leave  the  Academy  soon.  Then  I'll  begin 
to  paint  pictures  of  my  own.  There  will  be  two — may- 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  155 

be  three — years  of  waiting.  Oh,  Gretchen,  dearest,  ray 
betrothed " 

"  It  would  be  much  better  if  your  family  came  to  your 
assistance  now.  They  have  plenty  of  money  to  spare." 

"  You  just  wait,  Gretchen,  they'll  be  glad  enough  to 
come  to  me  later  on.  Another  kiss — where  is  your  mouth? 
Ah— h— " 

"  Let's  go  to  the  circus  tonight." 

"Wherever  you  wish.     Where  is  the  circus?  "  * 

"  On  the  Oberkassler  side  of  the  river.  I  was  there 
Sunday  with  Frank  Stibben  from  Neuss.  Next  spring 
he'll  be  made  captain  of  one  of  his  father's  vessels." 

"  That  sort  of  thing  must  end — from  today  on ! "  he 
commanded,  proudly. 

"What?" 

"You  must  not  go  out  alone  with  other  men.  You 
belong  to  me  alone." 

"  But  Franz  has  already  spoken  to  father  and  has  his 
consent." 

"A  common  fellow  like  that?  Marry  you?  He'd 
better  not  come  around  here  again,  that  fresh-water 
Jackie." 

"Don't  be  so  high  and  mighty!  The  Stibbens  are 
good,  substantial  citizens." 

"  They  belong  to  the  common  herd,  the  proletariat," 
he  cried,  "  with  their  thirty  cents'  worth  of  prop- 
erty. Don't  speak  of  them  again !  I  tell  you  I  won't 
allow  it." 

"  But  you  and  I  are  not  yet  pledged,  and  we  cannot  be 
formally  betrothed  because  you  are  not  of  age." 

"  I  shall  be  soon,  then  we'll " 

"  At  seven  o'clock  tonight  I'll  meet  you  in  the  market 

*  The  circus  is  a  permanent  institution  in  Germany,  comparable 
to  our  vaudeville,  well  housed,  and  with  actors  as  well  as  animals. 


156  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

place  under  the  Jan  Willen  statue.  Hush!  Father  is 
calling." 

He  grasped  the  pretty  face  between  the  lean  hands  and 
covered  it  with  hasty,  random  kisses.  Then  she  slipped 
out  as  noiselessly  as  she  had  come. 

Now  for  his  dream — the  composition.  If  he  could  but 
put  this  new,  strange  happiness  on  paper ;  but  only  a  few 
shaky  lines  appeared,  his  figures  were  confused,  grotesque. 
His  thoughts  were  wool  gathering,  a  girl's  image  floated 
between  his  eyes  and  the  paper.  He  started  at  every  foot- 
step guiltily,  expectantly,  his  hands  trembling.  The 
brittle  charcoal  snapped  again  and  again  in  his  nervous 
grasp,  blackening  his  fingers  until  he  was  forced  to  stop 
and  wash  them.  While  washing  his  hands  he  thought  of 
the  toilet  he  must  make  for  the  evening's  outing — he  must 
look  his  best.  The  composition  was  forgotten.  He  took 
his  coat  over  to  the  window  for  inspection  and  found  the 
elbows  suspiciously  shiny.  Slyly,  as  if  committing  a  crime, 
he  reached  for  an  India-ink  bottle  and  set  to  work  restor- 
ing an  air  of  prosperous  dullness  to  the  fabric.  Then  he 
took  his  shoes  and  polished  them  energetically,  paring  off 
stray  bits  of  ragged  sole  with  his  penknife.  He  looked  at 
his  clean  linen  with  satisfaction,  but  was  assailed  with 
fresh  doubts  at  the  thought  of  headgear.  But,  viewed 
from  all  points,  the  soft  hat  passed  muster  as  being  ar- 
tistic, Bohemian,  and  therefore  altogether  fitting  for  an 
art  student.  A  quarter  before  seven  saw  him  patrolling 
the  market  square,  clinking  the  loose  change  in  his  trousers 
pocket.  He  still  had  twenty-five  marks;  how  lucky  that 
Ernst  had  lent  him  the  money  on  that  very  day.  Now 
he  could  buy  box  tickets.  "  Enjoy  your  youth,  it  will 
never  return,"  he  hummed  merrily.  But  where  was  Gret- 
chen?  The  courthouse  clock  struck  seven.  Nervous  chills 
ran  over  him.  To  make  the  time  pass  more  rapidly  he 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  157 

began  to  count  one  to  sixty — sixty  seconds  to  the  minute, 
yet  he  always  finished  the  count  before  the  great  hand  on 
the  tower  moved  a  space.  Impatiently,  he  gave  up  count- 
ing and  began  to  circle  the  base  of  the  statue.  At  a  quar- 
ter past  she  finally  arrived. 

"  Gretchen !  " — But  the  reproaches  died  on  his  lips. 
She  appeared  to  him  like  a  charming  vision,  a  great  lady 
who  had  condescended  to  come  to  him,  in  her  clinging 
white  gown  and  broad  lace  collar.  Her  black  locks,  that 
he  had  praised,  were  covered  by  a  picturesque  wide- 
brimmed  hat. 

"  Hurry,  or  someone  will  surely  recognize  us  here," 
she  whispered.  "  Many  of  father's  friends  live  near  here." 

"  Why  are  you  so  late,  Gretchen  ?  "  he  asked,  as  they 
hurried  along.  "  It  seemed  an  eternity." 

"  I  told  father  I  was  invited  to  a  party  at  Frinchen 
Klenden's,  in  Flinger  Street.  So  I  had  to  go  and  tell  her 
about  it." 

"  But  that  was  deceitful." 

"  Oh ! "  she  said,  with  an  impatient  shrug,  "  I  had  to 
tell  him  something." 

She  gave  him  no  time  for  further  remonstrances,  but 
asked  at  once,  "  What  seats  did  you  get — in  the  orches- 
tra? " 

"  A  box ;  that  goes  without  saying  when  I  take  you." 

She  pinched  his  arm  gleefully,  and  almost  broke  into 
a  run.  Once  in  the  box,  however,  haste  gave  way  to  dig- 
nity and  she  made  a  brave  attempt  to  act  the  grande  dame, 
paying  little  attention  to  the  performance  and  much  to 
the  audience.  She  made  eyes  at  two  officers  of  the  Diis- 
seldorf  Uhlans,  who  turned  their  monocles  on  her.  At 
first,  Ewald  felt  the  justifiable  pride  of  a  pretty  girl's 
escort,  but  when  the  officers  kept  on  looking  he  grew  angry 
and  jealous. 


158  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

"  Don't  look  at  those  fellows  again.  They're  inso- 
lent." 

"Do  you  think  so?  Why,  they're  lieutenants  in  the 
Uhlans  and  great  swells." 

He  pressed  her  hand  tenderly.  "  But  I  ask  you  not 
to  do  it,  Gretchen." 

At  that  she  leaned  back,  sulkily  silent. 

After  the  performance  they  walked  in  silence  across 
the  Rhine  bridge,  passing  the  docks  on  the  way.  Here 
Gretchen  made  a  great  show  of  recognizing  the  vessel  of 
her  admirer  Franz  Stibben.  He  pretended  the  greatest 
indifference,  but  the  incident  spurred  him  on  in  a  new 
effort  to  please  her.  "  Gretchen " 

"  Let  me  be,  you're  unbearable !  " 

"  Would  you  like  to  go  to  Schmitz's  for  something  to 
eat  now?  It  is  a  perfectly  proper  place." 

She  pressed  his  arm  delightedly.     "  You  dear  boy !  " 

Only  a  few  of  the  regular  patrons  were  there  when 
they  entered.  She  was  disappointed  and  wished  to  leave 
at  once.  To  impress  her,  Ewald  ordered  a  bottle  of  that 
'  Kupferberg  Gold '  to  which  Ernst  had  introduced  him 
earlier  in  the  day.  Caviare  was  the  choicest  relish  he 
could  think  of  to  go  with  it,  and  he  ordered  two  portions. 
She  watched  him  slyly  to  see  how  it  should  be  eaten,  tested 
it  herself,  then  began  to  titter  behind  her  napkin. 

"  Do  you  like  it  ?  "  he  asked,  anxiously. 

"Very  much,"  she  nodded,  brightly,  and  took  a  sip  of 
the  sparkling  wine.  She  could  have  kissed  him  at  that 
moment  from  sheer  gratified  vanity.  Half  an  hour  later 
they  started  for  home,  she  very  unwilling  to  leave  her 
velvet  throne  and  royal  repast.  But  all  things  must  end, 
and  Ewald  at  last  called  for  his  bill.  He  was  beginning  to 
feel  ill  at  ease,  and  felt  the  waiter's  prying  eyes  on  his 
inked  elbows.  He  heaved  a  sigh  of  relief  when  they  were 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  159 

finally  in  the  street.  When  he  tried  to  embrace  Gretchen, 
she  pushed  him  away.  "  Those  are  not  the  manners  of  a 
young  gentleman."  In  her  exalted  mood  she  claimed  the 
treatment  due  a  fine  lady.  With  chin  in  the  air  and  fin- 
ger tips  barely  touching  his  sleeve,  she  minced  along  be- 
side him.  Soon  the  lights  of  Zinters'  shop  windows  ap- 
peared and  she  left  him  with  the  command  not  to  come  in 
for  another  fifteen  minutes. 

The  next  morning,  he  found  his  usual  breakfast  tray 
standing  outside  the  door,  but  it  did  not  tempt  him,  for  his 
head  was  heavy  and  the  blood  seemed  to  burn  his  veins. 
He  gave  up  all  thought  of  going  to  the  Academy  and 
went  for  a  walk  on  the  banks  of  the  Rhine.  There  was  a 
faint  clink  of  money  in  his  pocket  and  he  drew  the  coins 
out  curiously  to  see  how  much  he  had  left.  Only  five 
marks !  He  tried  to  think  of  Gretchen — the  joy  of  their 
next  meeting — and  hastened  home,  to  find  old  Zinters 
seated  alone  at  the  table.  In  answer  to  his  questions  he 
was  told  that  Gretchen  had  been  to  a  birthday  supper  the 
evening  before  and  was  now  suffering  from  a  headache. 
His  host  seemed  brusque,  suspicious.  He  fled  the  search- 
ing gaze  of  the  old  man  and  went  up  to  his  room.  Half 
dead  with  fatigue,  he  slept  the  remainder  of  the  after- 
noon and  on  through  the  night  without  waking.  Nor  did 
he  visit  the  Academy  the  next  day,  although  he  attempted 
some  work  on  his  composition.  But  his  mind  was  empty, 
sterile.  He  drew,  corrected,  erased,  started  afresh  on 
perfectly  blank  paper,  all  to  no  purpose.  At  midday  he 
asked  permission  to  dine  with  the  Zinters,  and  met  Gret- 
chen at  table.  She  greeted  him  coldly,  and  his  heart 
seemed  to  leap  into  his  throat;  but  when  her  father  left 
the  table  for  a  moment  to  serve  a  customer,  and  the  serv- 
ant was  busy  scraping  a  plate,  she  gave  him  an  intimate 
look  that  made  up  for  all  the  rest.  Then  her  father  re- 


160  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

turned,  and  she  resumed  her  air  of  indifference.  He 
carried  the  memory  of  that  one  glance  with  him  to  his 
garret,  it  thrilled  and  warmed  his  blood,  and  he  attacked 
another  drawing  sheet  with  a  truly  Wiskotten  vigor.  He 
worked  at  the  composition  until  it  was  too  dark  for  him  to 
see  the  paper,  then  realizing  a  sudden  hunger,  he  descended 
to  the  kitchen  in  search  of  something  to  eat.  The  maid 
was  in  the  cellar  drawing  wine  and  beer,  and  Gretchen 
appeared  at  the  door  of  the  public  room  carrying  a  tray 
of  cheese  and  plates.  She  glanced  about  quickly,  put  the 
tray  down,  and  he  felt  the  sudden  warm  contact  of  her 
body,  a  kiss — and  she  was  gone,  humming  gayly  as  she 
reentered  the  public  room.  She  sat  down  to  play  cards 
with  some  of  her  father's  cronies,  while  Ewald  beat  a 
hasty  retreat  and  supped  off  scraps  in  the  kitchen. 

The  next  day  Ernst  Kolsch  paid  his  promised  visit.  He 
studied  the  composition  thoughtfully,  stroking  his  budding 
mustache. 

"  For  goodness'  sake  say  something,  Ernst ! "  cried 
Ewald,  mad  with  suspense. 

"  It's  too  bad  this  is  not  Winter  time." 

"Why?" 

"  Then  you'd  be  able  to  earn  something  shoveling 
snow." 

"  Ernst !  "    The  room  began  to  swim  before  him. 

His  old  playfellow  grasped  him  by  the  arm.  "  Boy ! 
What's  the  matter?  Are  you  going  to  faint?  You'll  die 
if  you  don't  take  better  care  of  yourself." 

"But  my  composition?  You  find  it  worthless?  Noth- 
ing at  all  in  my  poor  '  Battle  Song  '?  " 

"What  do  you  want  me  to  say?  How  can  a  half- 
starved  man  hope  for  the  strength  and  vigor  of  a  battle 
theme.  Oh,  these  stupid,  conventional  Diisseldorf  Acad- 
emy ideas." 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  161 

"  Is  it  hopeless  ?     Absolutely  hopeless,  Ernst  ?  " 

"  Not  that.  I  can  see  there's  some  spark  in  you ;  you 
have  a  gift,  but  it  has  not  yet  found  expression.  And 
work  on  an  empty  stomach !  Think  of  it !  A  son  of  the 
Wupper  valley  attempting  anything  on  an  empty 
stomach ! " 

"Then  you  do  think  there's  some  hope  for-jne?" 

"  Hope?  More  than  that,  my  boy.  I  am  sure  there's 
quality  in  you.  Your  costumes  are  excellent.  But  for 
the  love  of  God,  come  to  an  understanding  with  yourself. 
You're  not  yet  twenty  and  must  await  the  proper  time  or 
you'll  wear  yourself  out  uselessly  and  really  fail.  Listen 
to  me;  you  can't  go  on  like  this.  You  must  room  with 
me." 

"  That's  impossible — I  cannot,"  stammered  Ewald. 

"  Perhaps  you're  right.  We  can  lodge  independently  if 
you  prefer,  but  have  our  meals  together  at  my  place.  I'm 
utterly  tired  of  being  alone,  and  you  cannot  refuse  to 
come  to  the  rescue.  We'll  settle  accounts  at  the  end  of 
the  year.  Keep  your  sky  parlor  here  if  you  wish.  It 
will  please  Anna  very  much  to  have  you  keep  me  com- 
pany." 

Ewald  hesitated  a  moment,  then  shook  hands  on  the 
bargain.  The  sun  was  shining  brightly  enough,  but  he 
felt  a  sudden  chill  of  isolation  and  doubt.  What  if  his 
dreams  never  came  true — if  he  should  fail  utterly?  He 
felt  the  need  of  Ernst's  buoyant  confidence. 


CHAPTER  IX 

ANNA  KOLSCH  was  returning  from  Diisseldorf.  Seated 
by  the  window  in  a  "  compartment  for  ladies  only,"  she 
watched  the  bright  Autumnal  landscape  slip  by.  Children 
on  the  embankment  waved  their  handkerchiefs  at  the 
train,  older  lads  were  flying  their  kites  in  the  stubble 
fields,  while  a  distant  pair  of  lovers  unconsciously  sil- 
houetted themselves  on  a  little  hill  at  the  edge  of  the  wood 
beyond.  She  gazed  out  fixedly,  until  her  eyes  smarted; 
factories,  villages,  stations  flashed  by.  The  train  rumbled 
slowly  over  the  Sonneborn  bridge;  below  her  rolled  the 
dark,  silent  Wupper;  the  valley  opened  before  her  sud- 
denly as  if  by  magic ;  one  more  turn  and  the  twin  cities 
of  Barmen  and  Elberfeld  were  visible  from  the  train. 

It  was  not  the  first  time  she  had  witnessed  this  silent, 
panoramic  play  of  scenery,  but  it  still  gave  her  a  certain 
shock  of  surprise  and  pleasure.  How  many  times  had  she 
made  the  trip  since  Spring?  At  least  once  every  month! 
Always  with  the  same  joyous  anticipation,  going;  the  same 
sadness,  returning.  Starting  with  full  hands  to  supply  her 
brother's  household  wants, — coming  with  plenty,  leaving 
again  empty-handed.  .  .  . 

She  shook  her  head,  as  if  denying  an  unpleasant  asser- 
tion. No,  she  did  not  ask  repayment — thanks.  It  was 
pleasure  enough  to  care  for  them — both.  But  .  .  .one 
of  them,  Ewald,  had  not  put  in  an  appearance  during  her 
visit.  He  had  stayed  away,  deliberately,  as  if  his  con- 
science were  not  clear.  What  if  it  had  not  been?  That 
was  his  own  affair,  not  hers.  At  any  rate,  there  was  no 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  163 

reason  for  his  treating  her  so  shabbily.  Had  they  not  al- 
ways been  good  friends,  ever  since  their  earliest  childhood? 
Why,  when  they  could  barely  toddle,  had  he  not  helped 
her  with  earnest  seriousness  when  she  fell?  Was  it  not 
her  turn  now,  if  he  had  fallen?  But  he  was  apparently 
not  willing  to  let  her.  She  could  not  help  laughing  at  the 
droll,  mental  pictures  of  tumbling  babies  and  tall  youths. 
Her  wholesome  nature  readily  threw  off  gloomy  and  mor- 
bid moods,  useless  speculations  as  to  empty  and  full  hands. 
After  all,  she  was  merely  obeying  her  father's  orders. 
Ernst  had  written  them  early  in  the  Summer,  telling  them 
of  Ewald's  sad  plight  and  of  the  arrangement  which  they 
had  made  to  have  their  meals  together.  Father  and 
daughter  had  held  a  long  conversation,  resulting  in 
Anna's  monthly  trips  to  Diisseldorf.  She  brought  to  her 
brother  advice,  provisions,  and  money  to  cover  the  addi- 
tional expenses,  and  their  father's  admonition,  "  See  that 
Ewald  has  everything  necessary  to  his  comfort  and 
health."  The  pride  of  the  old  Wiskotten  foreman  would 
not  allow  a  "  Wiskotten  "  to  suffer  want  or  humiliation. 

As  the  train  drew  up  to  the  Barmen  station,  she  recog- 
nized the  five  Wiskotten  brothers  on  the  platform.  "  Eng- 
lish "  William  was  a  step  in  advance  of  the  others,  gazing 
.eagerly  at  the  passengers  descending  from  the  Flushing 
train,  in  search  of  someone.  Anna  nodded  to  Gustav,  who 
had  been  the  first  to  see  her,  and  was  assisting  her  to 
alight. 

"  You  come  from  our  young  prodigals,  little  Samari- 
tan?" 

"  They  want  for  nothing,  Herr  Wiskotten.  Ewald  is 
in  good  health  and  hard  at  work." 

"  The  boy  is  deeply  in  your  debt,  Fraulein  Anna,  as  are 
we  also.  You  relieve  us  of  a  great  anxiety." 

"  It  is  nothing  at  all,"  she  murmured. 


164,  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

"  I  talk  it  over  often  with  your  father.  You  are  doing 
just  the  right  thing  for  us  all.  The  boy  is  hard-headed, 
but  as  things  are  now  we  can  bide  our  time  and  await  de- 
velopments in  peace.  If  he  has  any  talent,  well  and  good. 
Meanwhile,  I  leave  it  all  to  you." 

"  I'll  do  my  best,"  she  said,  heartily.  "  They're  looking 
for  you,  Herr  Wiskotten." 

"  William's  fiancee  has  arrived,  Miss  Mabel  White  of 
London.  I'm  one  of  the  reception  committee." 

He  nodded  a  farewell  and  hastened  down  the  platform 
and  Anna  turned  to  go  home.  Gustav  found  a  slender 
brunette  in  the  most  fashionable  and  becoming  of  travel- 
ing costumes  standing  beside  his  brother  William.  She 
was  greeting  the  other  brothers  with  embarrassed  delight. 

"  This  is  our  eldest,  my  brother  Gustav." 

"  I've  heard  a  great  deal  about  you,  Herr  Gustav,"  she 
said,  smiling,  as  they  shook  hands.  She  spoke  a  fluent 
German,  with  only  the  bare  trace  of  an  English  accent. 
"  I'm  sure  we  shall  become  good  friends." 

Gustav  gazed  down  into  the  expressive  eyes.  How 
frankly  they  met  his  own ! 

"  I  think  we  are  that  already,  Fraulein  White." 

"  So  many  of  you  to  meet  just  little  '  me,'  it's  a  reg- 
ular escort  of  honor,"  she  said,  smiling  on  the  group  of 
stalwart  brothers. 

"  We  don't  appear  on  the  streets  in  a  body,  except  on 
festive  occasions.  Otherwise,  the  citizens  might  think  the 
'  reserve  corps »  had  been  called  to  arms." 

"  The  carriage  is  waiting,  Mabel,"  said  William. 

The  two  younger  Wiskottens  hurried  off  in  search  of 
her  baggage. 

"  Well,  Paul,"  said  August,  with  a  knowing  wink,  as  he 
stroked  his  aspiring  mustache.  "  She  was  well  worth 
going  over  to  England  for,  a  perfect  beauty." 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  165 

The  baggage  was  found  and  loaded  on  top  of  the  car- 
riage. Gustav  took  the  betrothed  in  charge,  while  the 
other  brothers  boarded  the  Rittershausen  street  car. 
Noting  Mabel's  look  of  surprise  at  this  division  of  the 
party,  Gustav  explained.  "  We  have  no  cabs  for  hire 
here,  as  in  London.  The  valley  is  too  small  and  its 
inhabitants  all  hold  a  certain  word  in  terror  and  abhor- 
rence." 

"  What  is  that  forbidden  word?  " 

"  Luxury." 

She  glanced  roguishly  at  first  one,  then  the  other,  of 
her  two  companions.  "  But  I  ...  am  not  a  mere  word, 
I'm  a  personification  of  .  .  ." 

"  You  are  an  exception,"  declared  William,  proudly. 

"  The  censor  does  not  pass  on  strangers  from  other 
countries,  Miss  White.  For  these  he  has  only  critical 
admiration." 

"How  droll!" 

"  They  carry  it  so  far  that  we  manufacturers  send  our 
products — our  ribbons,  laces,  and  braids — to  Paris  and 
London,  and  now  our  correspondents  there  return  them  to 
us  in  the  same  boxes  as  '  Parisian  novelties  '  or  the  *  latest 
English  fashions.'  " 

"  Where's  the  profit  in  doing  that?  " 

"  Imported  goods  command  higher  prices." 

"Women  also?" 

"  You  can  answer  that,  William." 

As  if  by  accident  she  brushed  his  arm.  With  an  effort 
he  maintained  his  impassive  British  mask,  but  the  pas- 
sionate Wupper  blood  stormed  through  his  veins,  beyond 
any  mental  control.  Gustav  saw  and  understood;  much 
to  the  bewilderment  of  his  charming  vis-a-vis,  he  closed 
his  eyes  on  what  he  could  not  bear  to  see. 

The  other  brothers   arrived  at  the  same  time  as   the 


166  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

carriage  and  busied  themselves,  joyously,  with  the  bag- 
gage. In  the  triumphal  procession,  they  led  their  new 
sister-to-be  into  the  house.  Fritz,  at  the  end,  whistled  a 
march  and  Paul  gave  a  suppressed  imitation  of  a  snare 
drum.  William,  very  red  of  face,  opened  the  door  of  the 
living  room.  There,  grouped  about  the  table,  sat  the  two 
old  Wiskottens,  smiling  cordially,  and  Emily,  Gustav's 
wife.  They  rose  as  the  party  entered.  Smiling,  and  with- 
out the  slightest  show  of  embarrassment,  Mabel  White  ap- 
proached the  old  lady  in  the  black  lace  cap,  whom  she 
recognized  as  William's  mother.  Frau  Wiskotten  ex- 
tended a  slow,  solemn  hand,  saying :  "  May  God  bless  your 
coming,  my  child." 

"Won't  you  kiss  me?" 

The  old  lady  made  a  gesture  of  surprise,  but  immedi- 
ately mastered  her  displeasure  and  kissed  the  girl  bravely 
on  the  forehead. 

"  And  this  is  my  father,"  broke  in  William,  in  his  dis- 
comfort at  the  cold  and  patriarchal  greeting  of  his  mother. 
But  there  was  no  coldness  in  the  eyes  or  face  of  the  tender- 
hearted old  man,  nor  was  there  need  for  words  here.  The 
beautiful,  sensitive  girl  threw  her  arms  about  his  neck 
and  kissed  him  on  the  mouth.  His  face  shone  with  joy. 

"  Good  girl,  good  girl,"  he  said,  patting  her  shoulder. 

Gustav  now  introduced  Emily,  but  she  too  was  all 
formality.  She  felt  ill  at  ease  in  her  provincial  clothes 
before  this  exquisitely  gowned  creature,  nor  did  she  pos- 
sess the  tact  to  cover  her  embarrassment  by  any  attempt 
at  cordiality.  She  even  left  it  to  the  old  lady  to  conduct 
the  newcomer  to  her  room.  Gustav  could  not  fail  to 
notice  this  and  was  displeased  at  her  lack  of  good  grace. 

"  Apparently  you  don't  like  her,"  he  said,  reproach- 
fully. 

"  One  reason  the  more  for  your  doing  so." 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  167 

"  Look  how  pleased  father  is  !  " 

"  Of  course,  he  never  made  such  a  fuss  over  me." 

"  Do  be  reasonable,  Emily.  William's  fiancee  should 
be  feted  to-day.  It  is  her  day." 

"  I  know  that,  but  how  about  my  day?  " 

"  Emily,"  said  Gustav,  gently,  "  you  need  not  fear  com- 
parison with  any  woman  in  the  world.  You  are  quite  as 
important  as  William's  fiancee.  But  this  embittered  ex- 
pression adds  ten  years  to  your  looks — if  you  could  only 
be  made  to  understand  this." 

"  Go !  Run  after  her  too,  as  you  do  after  all  the 
rest." 

Fritz  came  in  gayly,  "  Such  billing  and  cooing.  Can't 
you  old  married  people  do  that  at  home?  You  make  me 
lonesome."  He  put  his  arm  about  Emily,  "  Give  me  a 
kiss,  sister ! " 

"  Don't  be  so  silly,  Fritz.     Let  me  alone." 

He  drew  back,  annoyed.  "  Hoity  toity,  our  little  Mabel 
is  sweeter  tempered." 

"  Mabel !     You  and  your  Mabels,"  she  sneered. 

The  table  had  been  set  with  special  care  tonight  in 
honor  of  the  visitor,  the  menu  was  more  elaborate  than 
usual,  and  the  maid  served  it  with  an  air  of  pride. 
At  the  head  were  seated  the  old  couple,  side  by  side. 
On  their  right  were  the  betrothed.  On  their  left,  Gustav 
and  Emily,  the  other  sons  completing  the  family  party. 
Mabel  beamed  on  them. 

"  What  great  fellows  those  sons  of  yours  are,  Mother. 
Are  you  never  afraid  among  so  many  big  men  ?  " 

Frau  Wiskotten  shook  her  head.  "  No  indeed,  they 
have  been  taught  respect." 

"  Even  now,  we  are  not  all  here,"  cried  Paul.  "  There 
is  still  another." 

There  was  a  moment  of  painful  silence. 


168  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

"  The  youngest  son  is  in  Diisseldorf,"  explained  Gus- 
tav,  in  a  low  voice.  "  At  present,  he  has  the  notion  of 
becoming  a  painter." 

"Oh— an  artist  in  the  family?" 

"At  home,  the  different  members  of  our  family  have 
various  artistic  activities,  little  sister.  At  the  factory,  it 
is  ribbons,  laces,  braids — that  is  our  chief  business  in  life ; 
but  as  for  private  business,  hobbies — we  each  have  our 
own.  Paul  is  a  poet,  August  a  lay  priest,  and  Fritz  a 
judge  of  horses." 

"And  William?" 

"Finance!" 

"As  a  hobby?" 

"Were  I  in  his  place,  I  should  immediately  renounce 
any  other  business." 

"  You  are  flattering,"  she  laughed.  "  And  what  is 
your  hobby?" 

"  Should  you  ask  my  wife,  she  would  say  '  playing  the 
domestic  tyrant ' !  " 

"  I  think  the  tyranny  must  not  be  very  terrible.  Am  I 
right,  Madam?" 

Emily  did  not  appear  to  understand  that  the  girl  had 
addressed  the  question  to  her.  Frau  Wiskotten  looked 
surprised  and  gave  William  a  significant  look.  Poor 
William  tugged  at  his  cherished  side  whiskers  in  embar- 
rassment, then  explained  to  Mabel. 

"  You  must  not  use  that  formal  title  with  Emily.  Call 
her  by  her  first  name." 

"Do  you  wish  me  to,  Emily?" 

"  Certainly,  but  I'm  afraid  I  shall  find  yours  difficult 
to  pronounce." 

"  Ma — bel,  and  yours  is  Em — i — ly." 

"  Kiss  each  other !  Kiss  !  Kiss  !  "  chorused  the  younger 
brothers.  With  a  laugh,  Mabel  rose  and  ran  around  the 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  169 

table  to  Emily's  seat.  "  Ah — h !  "  came  the  chorus,  as  the 
kiss  was  given. 

"  Now  that  you  are  here,  to  save  time  and  exertion," 
said  Gustav.  "Shall  we?" 

"  What,  must  I  kiss  you  all?  "  cried  Mabel,  in  mock 
terror. 

"All!    All!"  chanted  the  chorus. 

Gustav  took  her  in  his  arms  and  kissed  her  heartily  on 
the  mouth.  "  What  delicious  lips  she  has,"  he  thought, 
"  lips  to  dream  of !  "  Then  he  yielded  her  to  his  brothers, 
who  pounced  upon  her  with  cries  of  joy.  Even  August 
forgot  his  austerity  and  clamored  for  the  precedence  of 
his  seniority.  Paul  asserted  that  in  the  future  his  public 
and  private  business  should  be  the  cultivation  of  their  fra- 
ternal relations.  His  verses  should  all  be  for  her.  Fritz 
claimed  a  share  of  her  interest  in  his  favorite  sports,  and 
August  brought  ecclesiastical  authority  for  their  friend- 
ship. They  would  now  set  their  new  playfellow  free. 

"  Gustav,  the  new  sample  cards  are  all  ready.  Send 
that  tiresome  fellow,  William,  about  his  business.  He's 
letting  our  competitors  have  a  free  field." 

But  the  Barmen  "  competitors  "  in  his  private  "  hobby  " 
were  the  only  ones  who  concerned  William  just  then;  he 
cared  little  who  "  conquered  "  Britain. 

"  Do  you  think  I  took  the  pains  to  win  Mabel  for  your 
pleasure?  " 

"  You  went  to  England  at  our  expense." 

"  Whether  it  suits  you  or  not,  old  fellow,  we  have  a 
right  to  share  in  your  profitable  enterprises  there." 

"  Mabel  belongs  to  the  Firm  of  Wiskotten.  Don't  you, 
Mabel?  " 

"  I'll  pay  ransom  for  my  freedom." 

"  Hurrah  !     She'll  pay  ransom." 

At   last,   she   regained  her   seat,   breathless   and   with 


170  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

flashing  eyes,  exhaling  an  atmosphere  of  youth,  vivacity, 
and  joy-of-living.  Emily  Wiskotten  sat  staring  into 
space,  full  of  bitter,  questioning  thoughts.  No  one  had 
ever  done  her  such  homage,  yet  she  was  as  slender  and 
beautiful  as  the  newcomer.  Her  hair  was  brighter, 
thicker — loosened  it  fell  about  her  like  a  cloak.  But  what 
pleasure  did  its  beauty  give  anyone?  Whence  came  the 
art  of  winning  hearts  that  this  stranger  possessed?  It 
was  not  because  of  an  extraordinary  intelligence,  nor  was 
it  wholly  because  she  was  a  foreigner.  With  a  feminine 
instinct,  Emily  divined  that  this  woman  was  more  of  the 
"  eternally  feminine "  than  she — more  impulsive,  more 
coquettish,  more  yielding.  She  took  more  pleasure  in 
provoking  the  interest  of  men,  in  battling  with  them  in 
the  eternal  battle  of  sex,  except  with  the  one  to  whom  she 
would  give  herself  utterly  and  for  all  time.  Above  all, 
she  was  always  the  woman,  always  desirable,  a  creature  of 
a  thousand  fascinating  moods.  She  seemed  to  exhale  a 
subtle  and  intoxicating  perfume  that  drew  men  to  her,  as 
bees  to  a  sweet  flower,  bringing  a  flush  to  their  cheeks  and 
a  brilliancy  to  their  eyes.  Was  it  a  rare  and  personal 
secret,  this  charm?  Or  was  it  the  natural  but  often 
neglected  inheritance  of  the  whole  sex?  .  .  . 

Meanwhile,  Mabel  was  chatting  with  Father  Wiskotten 
about  her  own  father.  "  Before  you  were  even  thought 
of,  we  were  business  associates,"  said  the  old  man,  proud- 
ly. "  He  was  the  first  foreigner  with  whom  I  did  busi- 
ness." 

"  Really?  "  said  Mabel.  "  Well,  it  could  not  have  been 
any  great  amount,  for  he  began  in  a  very  small  way." 

"How  about  that,  Mother?  Did  we  start  out  with  all 
this  high  horse-power  machinery?  " 

"  Father  did  many  a  hard  day's  work  before  he  suc- 
ceeded." 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  171 

"  I  too,  child.  There  are  men  in  this  town  still  who 
boxed  my  ears  for  not  hurrying  with  their  beer  when  I 
was  an  apprentice." 

"  How  fine  !  " 

"  Just  see,  Father,"  laughed  Gustav.  "  Your  new 
daughter-in-law  rejoices  over  the  trouncings  you  got." 

"  No  indeed,  not  that,  but  to  think  how  he  can  make 
them  all  stand  around  now." 

"  That's  mother's  doing,"  said  the  old  man ;  "  she 
schooled  and  counseled  me  well." 

"Will  you  do  the  same  for  me,  Mother?" 

As  usual  the  light  tone  of  the  conversation  displeased 
the  old  woman.  "  If  you  need  correcting,  child,  but  I 
trust  you  will  not." 

Ensued  another  riot  of  advice  and  jest,  concerning  the 
future  bringing  up  of  Mabel  in  her  German  home.  To 
change  the  subject  she  announced.  "  Tomorrow  I'm 
going  to  visit  the  factory;  who  will  escort  me?  " 

Father  Wiskotten  claimed  the  honor.  "  My  feet  are 
free  from  gout  again." 

When  they  had  decided  on  the  route  and  hour  for  the 
visit  of  inspection,  it  was  midnight. 

"  Go  on,"  cried  Frau  Wiskotten,  "  or  I'll  put  the  lights 
out." 

"Out,  William!  Hurry  up!  This  is  a  respectable 
family." 

This,  because  during  Mabel's  visit  William  was  staying 
with  Gustav.  He  bade  his  parents  good  night  and  kissed 
his  fiancee's  hand  with  an  assured  British  frigidity. 
This  would  not  pass  unchallenged  by  his  mischief-loving 
brothers. 

"What?  Is  that  all?  Well,  never  mind,  Mabel,  we'll 
make  up  for  his  coldness." 

"  Try  if  you  dare,"  she  taunted  and  ran  into  her  own 


172  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

room.  "  Good  night,  Father,"  she  cried,  through  the 
keyhole. 

"  Good  night,  little  daughter." 

"  Good  night,  August.  Good  night,  everybody.  Dream 
of  me." 

"Little  witch,  just  wait  till  tomorrow!" 

A  silvery  laugh  answered  the  threat. 

"  A  charming  girl,"  murmured  the  father. 

"  Good  night,"  said  August  to  his  brothers.  "  If  we're 
to  have  a  holiday  tomorrow  afternoon  we  must  do  double 
work  in  the  morning.  Don't  forget  that !  " 

"  Thanks  for  the  free  sermon." 

Half  an  hour  later  all  were  asleep  there,  but  Gustav 
and  William  were  still  smoking  and  talking. 

"Another  cigar,  William,"  said  Gustav. 

"  If  Emily  permits." 

"  Oh,  don't  worry  about  me.    I'm  going  to  bed." 

William  saw  that  she  was  displeased  and  tried  to  soothe 
her.  "  Just  a  few  moments,  Emily.  I'm  very  tired  too." 

Gustav  reentered  the  room  after  looking  at  his  sleep- 
ing children.  "  Sound  asleep,  the  boy  on  his  face,  the 
girl  sucking  her  thumb !  I'll  be  up  in  five  minutes,  Emily." 

The  brothers  smoked  and  chattered  for  a  quarter  of  an 
hour.  Then  Gustav  threw  aside  his  cigar  and  said :  "  You 
are  to  be  congratulated,  William.  You  have  given  the 
family  something  it  has  been  greatly  in  need  of — fresh 
blood  from  outside.  Mabel  brings  new  life,  joy,  interest 
into  our  rather  dull,  commercial  household." 

"  I  was  sure  she  would  please  you." 

"  Sleep  well." 

"  You,  also." 

Emily  was  still  awake  when  Gustav  came  into  their 
sleeping  room.  "Well,  have  you  finished  singing  the 
praises  of  your  fine  lady  at  last?  "  she  sneered. 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  173 

"  Your  word  is  well  chosen.  She  is,  indeed,  a  '  lady.' 
She  knows  how  to  maintain  a  proper  dignity,  with  all  her 
innocent  gayety." 

"Why  not?  She  has  nothing  to  do  but  play  the 
lady." 

"  One  can  still  be  agreeable  with  half  a  dozen  children." 

"  No  doubt  that  was  aimed  at  me.  Every  woman  can- 
not be  so  fond  of  male  admiration." 

"  Emily,  you  might  moderate  your  speech  a  little.  This 
carping  is  growing  to  be  a  second  nature  with  you." 

"How  about  your  carping?  Why,  you're  head  over 
heels  in  love  with  her  too ! " 

"  Not  in  love  with  her,  but  with  her  manners." 

"  Well,  shall  I  try  to  imitate  them,  then?  " 

"  It  would  not  do  you  any  harm.  A  little  more  youth- 
ful gayety,  more  laughter  and  less  sulking,  would  not  be 
unbecoming  in  a  young  woman  like  you." 

"  So,  I'm  not  good  enough  for  you  as  I  am?  Speak 
up  plainly  and  say  you're  tired  of  me,  that  you  want  to 
be  rid  of  me.  I'm  ready  to  go.  I've  stood  more  than 
enough."  She  buried  her  face  in  her  pillow,  sobbing  bit- 
terly. He  laid  a  gentle  hand  on  her  shoulder,  but  she 
shook  it  off,  angrily.  "  Let  me  be.  I'm  not  your  Mabel, 
that  let's  everyone  handle  her.  Your  charming,  well- 
mannered  Mabel ! " 

Gustav's  hand  dropped.  With  difficulty  he  controlled 
an  answering  burst  of  anger.  He  tried  to  mend  matters 
with  a  poor  jest. 

"  You  have  the  imagination  of  a  genius ;  you  can  cer- 
tainly make  something  out  of  nothing,  and  nothing  out 
of  something." 

"  That's  right,  play  the  abused,  misunderstood  hus- 
band and  get  your  Mabel  to  console  you." 

"  Enough  of  that !     My  patience  is  worn  out." 


174  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

"  Mine  was  worn  out  long  ago,"  she  sobbed. 

Long  after  the  sobbing  ceased,  Gustav  lay  awake,  silent 
and  miserable.  The  darkness,  the  silence,  even  the  bed- 
clothes seemed  to  stifle  him.  The  friendly  murmur  of  the 
Wupper  was  a  relief,  then  the  watchman's  step  sounded 
and  Gustav's  thoughts  turned  to  the  factory,  that  the 
man  was  guarding.  Soon  he  would  have  another  building 
under  his  nightly  care  and  he,  Gustav,  would  have  more 
work  to  help  him  forget.  There  would  be  new  workmen  to 
hire,  new  plans  to  carry  out.  If  only  they  might  make  a 
great  success  of  Fritz's  new  discovery.  Emily's  father, 
old  Scharwachter,  would  be  greatly  surprised.  He  dealt 
in  cheap  grades  of  ribbon  and  silk;  here  was  a  chance  to 
do  some  profitable  business  together  and  Emily  would 
surely  be  pleased.  Emily?  She  was  sleeping  quietly; 
while  he — he — lay  awake  thinking,  planning,  striving  for 
success  in  the  business,  always  the  business.  Was  there  to 
be  nothing  else  but  that  in  his  life? 

His  heart  filled  with  a  nameless  sorrow  and  longing. 
His  hands  gripped  convulsively  at — nothing!  He  could 
have  cried  out  in  anguish  and  desire  that  was  near  to 
despair.  Why  had  he  been  robbed  of  all  human,  normal 
joy-in-living?  Was  life  to  be  one  ceaseless  round  of  labors, 
with  never  a  well-earned  laborer's  holiday?  It  was  not 
physical  weariness  or  overstrain  that  held  him  in  its  grip 
— his  muscles  and  sinews  were  of  iron.  But  his  soul?  His 
youth?  His  eager  senses?  They  were  starving,  and  be- 
side him  lay  his  young  wife  and  companion,  who  should 
have  been  the  living  answer  to  all  his  desires.  He  thirsted 
for  beauty,  grace,  care-free  joyousness,  the  perfume  of 
fair  womanhood — all  that  world  of  happiness  that  was 
closed  to  him,  the  world  of  gracious  womanhood  where  he 
might  be  free  for  a  time  from  the  dust  and  soot  of  his 
daily  toil. 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  175 

There  lay  his  young  wife,  beautiful  as  a  statue,  created 
to  give  pleasure,  but  her  thoughts  circled  eternally  in  one 
selfish,  narrow  sphere.  To  her,  marriage  was  the  end  of 
youth  and  charm,  the  prison  house  of  duty  into  which  she 
drew  another  soul  and  subjected  it  to  a  prison's  unlovely 
discipline.  His  wife,  his  life  comrade — part  of  his  youth. 
The  gray  dawn  crept  through  the  curtains  and  put  an 
end  to  his  unhappy  musings,  a  dawn  as  dreary  as  his 
thoughts,  for  the  first  storm  of  November  sent  its  driving 
rain  against  the  windowpane. 

Before  seven,  Gustav  was  at  the  dye  works.  Again  he 
was  the  man  of  action  driving  away  the  haunting  thoughts 
of  the  night  with  a  cold  plunge  in  the  workmen's 
bathhouse.  Then  he  breakfasted  with  his  brother, 
William. 

"  You're  in  no  mood  for  work  today.  Go  and  bid 
Mabel  good  morning  for  me." 

"  No,  I  shall  not  go  over  until  nearly  noon.  I  want  to 
give  mother  a  chance  to  get  acquainted  with  her  new 
daughter." 

"  Well  then,  come  with  me  to  the  office  and  look  over 
the  mail." 

Later  Gustav  found  time  for  a  few  words  with  Kolsch 
about  the  coming  visit.  "  I'll  see  to  it  all,  Herr  Wiskot- 
ten,  garlands  and  decorations  in  her  honor" — and  Gus- 
tav was  on  his  way  with  a  warmer  feeling  in  his  heart  at 
the  thought  of  the  gracious  presence  that  would  soon  be 
there.  He  went  his  customary  rounds,  visiting  the  new 
dye  works  where  the  work  was  going  on  rapidly.  He 
surveyed  it  all  with  the  eye  of  a  general  conducting  a 
successful  campaign. 

It  was  still  raining  at  noon  and  Gustav  awaited  his 
guests  at  the  factory  gate  with  a  huge  umbrella.  Emily 
had  excused  herself  and  would  join  them  later — she  had 


176  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

no  desire  to  play  maid  of  honor  in  this  triumphal  pro- 
cession. Gustav  had  not  urged  her,  as  he  felt  her  unwill- 
ing presence  would  act  as  a  damper. 

At  last  they  arrived.  Father,  mother,  and  the  body- 
guard of  brothers.  Mabel  wore  a  long  raincoat  and  hood 
that  was  an  object  of  wonder  to  the  simple  valley  people 
— they  had  never  seen  the  like. 

"  Good  day,  Gustav,"  she  cried,  when  she  saw  him,  and 
waved  her  hand  gayly.  "  Ah,  look !  The  gates  have  been 
decorated  in  my  honor.  You  are  thoughtful  enough  to 
deserve  the  honor  of  being  my  brother-in-law." 

He  grasped  her  hand  warmly.  "  Unfortunately,  I 
could  not  have  the  weather  made  to  order  too." 

"Why,  this  is  good  weather." 

"  It  must  be,  for  this  is  the  time  of  year  when  most  of 
the  Wupper  valley  babies  come  into  the  world  and  they're 
a  healthy  lot." 

"  Are  you  joking?  " 

"  No,  it's  the  truth.  Ask  mother  if  all  the  babies  here 
are  not  born  with  rubbers  on  their  feet  and  prayer  books 
in  their  hands." 

"  Don't  talk  such  nonsense,"  said  the  old  lady,  easily 
angered  by  any  frivolity,  but  the  old  man  laughed  good- 
naturedly. 

First  they  visited  the  offices,  all  in  beautiful  order  today. 

"  This  is  August's  realm,"  said  Gustav,  "  and  back  here 
Paul  writes  his  poems  when  no  one  is  watching  him." 

"  Have  you  written  the  poem  you  promised  me  ?  " 

"  Hush !  August  will  fine  me  for  doing  it  during  busi- 
ness hours." 

The  catalogue  printing  and  bindery  rooms  must  be 
seen,  the  lithographing,  and  lastly  Frau  Wiskotten's  realm, 
where  the  girls  were  busily  at  work,  silent  and  sober  be- 
fore the  visitors.  One  young  thing  began  to  giggle,  but 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  177 

a  rap  of  the  knuckles  on  her  silly  head  brought  silence 
again. 

"  Mother  rules  here,  and  where  Mother  rules  there  is 
order  and  Holy  Writ." 

Mabel  glanced  respectfully  at  the  old  woman. 

"  Begin  with  God !  Finish  with  God ! "  said  Frau  Wis- 
kotten,  sententiously. 

They  filed  through  the  packing  rooms  to  the  loom  room. 
Here  the  machinery  whirred  and  sighed  in  joyous  haste. 
Gustav  explained  the  various  steps  of  manufacturing  to 
Mabel  and  let  her  direct  the  handle  of  one  of  the  looms. 
She  was  happy  as  a  child  when  the  yarn  disappeared  and 
a  bit  of  ribbon  slowly  emerged.  Her  fiancee  cut  it  off 
gallantly,  and  put  it  in  his  pocketbook  for  a  souvenir,  and 
she  beamed  at  him. 

They  visited  everything,  examined  everything  from  the 
raw  yarn  to  the  finished  goods,  and  then,  laughing  like 
children,  they  made  a  dash  for  the  dye  works  through  the 
heavy  downpour. 

"  I'm  master  here,"  cried  Fritz,  as  he  flung  the  door 
open. 

"  A  kingdom  of  fog,"  cried  Mabel. 

"  In  your  honor.  A  true  London  fog,"  he  cried.  "  Wel- 
come home." 

The  dyers  grinned,  and  turned  back  to  the  work  that 
could  not  be  neglected.  The  door  opened  again  and 
Emily  appeared.  Through  the  thick,  misty  atmosphere 
she  was  scarcely  visible. 

Mabel  called  out  to  her.  "  When  I  get  back  from  Lon- 
don, I'll  tell  you  good  day." 

"  Now  for  the  laboratory ! "  cried  Fritz,  shouting  to 
make  himself  heard  above  the  roar  and  clatter  of  the  place. 
"  Forward !  Forward !  "  cried  Mabel,  excited  by  the  noise 
and  activity. 


178  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

"  Look  out !  "  thundered  a  voice  from  the  fog,  as  a  flood 
from  one  of  the  used  vats  was  poured  out  onto  the  floor. 

"  Why  didn't  you  wait  a  moment?  "  thundered  Fritz,  in 
answer. 

"Couldn't,"  came  curtly. 

"  Now  do  we  have  to  swim  across  ?  In  'Ekkehard '  the 
holy  monk  carried  the  beautiful  duchess  over  the  thresh- 
old," cried  Paul.  "Who  shall  play  his  part  now?  " 

Gustav  bent  down  and  lifted  the  waiting  girl  in  his 
strong  arms,  carrying  her  through  flood  and  steam  up  to 
the  haven  of  the  laboratory.  He  pushed  the  door  open 
with  his  foot,  still  holding  her. 

"  Now  you  see  I  have  a  pleasant  *  hobby  '  too.  Better 
than  the  only  one  I  could  claim  last  night." 

She  took  hold  of  his  flowing  mustache  and  drew  him 
toward  her  for  a  kiss.  "Now,  are  you  repaid?" 

He  set  her  down.  Emily  stood  looking  at  them  from 
the  doorway  for  an  instant,  then  she  turned  and  he  could 
hear  her  descending  the  steps,  but  the  brothers  came  in 
tumultuously. 

"  Did  she  repay  you  for  your  service,  Gustav?  " 

"  I  gave  him  a  kiss,"  she  said,  shamelessly. 

"  You  must  not  pay  in  such  coin,"  said  William. 

"  If  you're  jealous,  I'll  give  him  another,"  she  threat- 
ened. 

"  Oh,  William,  do  be  jealous,"  begged  the  mischief 
makers. 

Gustav  paid  them  little  attention.  He  was  looking  to- 
ward the  door,  expectantly.  He  could  still  see  Emily's 
unhappy  face. 

"Did  you  see  Emily?" 

"  She  has  gone  home.     A  headache " 

Gustav  heard  little  of  Fritz's  proud  explanation  of  his 
laboratory  work. 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  179 

"  Here  I  shall  stay  and  mix  and  putter  and  brew  until 
I  have  concocted  a  new  riding  horse  or  so  with  the  magic 
of  chemistry.  You  can  be  sure  of  it,  Mabel,  but  I'll  not 
say  anything  more  yet." 

She  nodded  sympathetically,  and  then  cast  a  startled 
glance  at  Gustav.  The  great,  strong  man  had  a  stricken 
look. 

"  Don't  you  feel  well?  "  she  cried,  grasping  his  hand 
with  friendly  solicitude. 

The  brothers  all  turned  and  looked  at  him.  "  Why,  old 
fellow,  you're  not  ill?  " 

He  pulled  himself  together  with  a  deep  sigh.  "  Don't 
worry.  A  passing  dizziness.  It's  over  now.  Thanks, 
little  sister." 

Her  compassionate  eyes  had  restored  his  self-control. 
No  one  must  know  his  real  need  of  pity,  she  least  of  all. 
He  bit  his  quivering  lips  and  tried  to  smile. 

The  brothers  carried  Mabel  and  their  parents  off  to  the 
house.  He  remained  alone  in  the  factory  until  the  whistle 
released  him.  With  heavy  heart  he  entered  his  own  house. 
On  the  dining  room  table  lay  a  note  in  Emily's  hand: 

"  I  shall  spend  the  night  at  my  father's  with  the 
children.  We  can  come  to  an  understanding  tomor- 
row." 

He  grew  deathly  pale,  then  a  painful  glow  spread  over 
his  face  to  the  roots  of  his  hair.  The  note  crumpled  in 
his  hand  and  he  unconsciously  rolled  it  into  a  hard  ball 
between  his  twitching  fingers.  Just  as  involuntarily,  he 
grasped  his  hat  and  put  it  on,  turned  and  left  the  house, 
out  into  the  streaming  rain,  walking  blindly  until  he 
reached  the  bank  of  the  friendly  Wupper.  He  could  not 
see  it  in  the  inky  darkness,  but  heard  its  familiar  murmur, 


180  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

and  its  black  waters  lapped  at  his  feet  like  the  tongue  of 
a  faithful  dog.  The  tension  broke,  and  one  savage  laugh 
that  was  half  a  sob  burst  from  him,  and  the  faithful  Wup- 
per  kissed  his  feet  in  answer. 

"  Yes,  yes,"  he  said  aloud,  as  if  to  a  friendly  animal, 
"  we  two,  we  belong  together.  There  is  nothing  for  us  in 
existence  but  work  ..." 


CHAPTER  X 

THE  first  trial  of  the  new  dyeing  machinery  was  set  for 
the  next  day.  The  sun  rose  on  a  clear,  cool  Autumn 
morning,  and  shone  dazzlingly  on  the  fresh-washed  pave- 
ment of  the  courtyard,  as  Gustav  walked  silently  beside 
his  brother  Fritz  for  a  final  tour  of  inspection.  His  face 
was  hard  and  he  did  not  smile  to  the  greetings 
of  his  employees.  At  that  moment  he  had  forced  all 
thoughts  and  feelings  from  his  consciousness,  except  those 
pertaining  to  the  new  dye  works  and  its  machines,  into 
whose  passive  silence  they  were  about  to  blow  the  first 
breath  of  life.  The  engineer  who  had  installed  them  was  at 
hand  to  explain  technical  details,  and  Kolsch  made  a  fourth 
in  the  party. 

The  little  group  of  interested  men  passed  along  the 
rows  of  yawning  ovens  to  the  washing,  wringing,  and  trans- 
mission apparatus.  Brief  questions  were  answered  with  a 
few  pertinent  explanations,  and  Gustav  curtly  ordered  the 
machinery  to  be  put  in  motion.  With  scarce  a  sound  the 
great  change  took  place.  The  open  ovens  gaped  like  a 
row  of  empty  coffins  one  moment,  then  a  slight  murmur, 
a  faint  humming  sound — an  almost  human  sigh,  as  of  a 
sleeper  newly  awakened,  the  water  flooded  into  the  empty 
compartments  and  the  steam  rolled  out.  A  shudder  of 
life  seemed  to  run  through  wood  and  iron.  The  tri- 
umphal "  song  of  toil "  sounded  through  the  place — the 
spirit  of  toil  lived  and  reigned  supreme  in  its  new 
dwelling. 

181 


182  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

Gustav  listened  eagerly,  intently,  to  this  music  of  life 
and  labor  as  if  to  learn  its  innermost  meaning.  Fritz 
spoke  to  him,  but  he  did  not  turn  his  head,  then  Kolsch 
cried,  "  I  congratulate  you,  Herr  Wiskotten !  " 

"What  did  you  say,  Kolsch?" 

"  I  congratulate  you !  " 

"  Oh,  yes.  Indeed,  there  is  reason  for  congratulation 
here.  Thank  you,  Kolsch."  He  pressed  his  hand,  and 
turned  to  his  brother,  "  Fritz ! " 

"  Here  I  am,  Gustav." 

But  Gustav  had  again  forgotten  his  presence.  When 
he  spoke  again  it  was  to  Kolsch. 

"  How  little  people  know  what  such  a  thing  as  this 
costs.  Even  our  own  workmen  cannot  realize  it.  They 
only  see  the  walls,  but  not  the  cement  which  holds  them 
together — the  strength  of  our  souls  lies  there  and  renun- 
ciation of — so  much — of  beauty  and  joy  in  the  world,  in 
life." 

"Herr  Wiskotten,  somewhere,  somehow,  those  vital 
energies  must  be  spent.  Here  they  have  not  been  squan- 
dered." 

"  No,  we  are  not  spendthrifts.  But  it  must  be  pleasant, 
after  all,  to  live  a  care-free,  joyous  life,  with  no  thought  of 
the  morrow.  Well,  well,  I  suppose  there  must  be  some  of 
our  sort  in  the  world  too.  We  must  keep  our  hands  to 
the  plow,  the  other  way  is  not  for  us."  Again  his  thoughts 
were  for  his  brother  and  he  laid  an  affectionate  hand  on 
the  other's  shoulder.  "Well,  boy,  now  bring  on  your 
battalions.  The  battlefield  is  ready.  Now  it  remains  for 
us  to  secure  the  victory." 

"  Don't  worry,  Gustav.  My  plans  are  all  laid,  my 
forces  marshaled." 

"  Then  on  with  the  merry  dance ! " 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  183 

"  Let  us  hope  that  your  father-in-law  won't  turn  dizzy 
learning  the  new  steps." 

"  He'll  have  to  dance  with  us,  willy  nilly." 

"  Do  you  think  he'll  be  willing  to  reduce  his  own  manu- 
facturing output  and  handle  our  new  goods  on  commis- 
sion? Sell  them  to  his  customers?  " 

"  That  depends  on  his  mood  when  I  suggest  it.  I 
shall  know  this  noon." 

"  Ah !    You're  going  to  have  it  out  with  him  at  once  ?  " 

"  I  shall " 

He  swept  one  more  searching  look  over  the  manifold 
activities  of  the  new  dye  plant,  thanked  the  engineer,  and 
with  a  curt  farewell  strode  out  of  the  factory  yard.  At 
his  house  he  told  the  maid  that  his  wife  and  children  were 
at  his  father-in-law's  and  would  have  their  midday  meal 
there.  The  old  man  had  been  ill  since  yesterday.  Half 
an  hour  later  he  was  on  his  way  to  Unterbarmen  where 
old  Scharwachter  lived. 

The  two  men  saw  each  other  seldom,  for  Scharwachter 
was  one  of  the  most  rigid  and  intolerant  churchmen  in  the 
valley.  Every  natural  joy  was  sinful  and  abhorrent  in 
his  eyes.  His  son-in-law's  boisterous,  irreverent  manner 
was  a  constant  irritation  to  him.  When  they  were  in  the 
same  room  he  felt  that  Gustav's  mere  presence  pushed  him 
to  one  side,  made  him  insignificant  and  a  person  of  less 
importance.  Business  necessity  had  alone  driven  them 
into  an  alliance,  and  on  business  grounds  alone  was  it  pos- 
sible for  them  to  meet  and  talk  with  any  comfort.  Emily 
had  often  been  the  go-between  when  difficulties  had  arisen 
between  the  two  factory  owners. 

The  house  stood  in  a  side  street  and  had  an  uncared-for 
air.  A  weather-beaten  iron  picket  fence  separated  it  from 
the  street,  and  a  mantle  of  wild  ivy  added  a  touch  of 
beauty  to  its  otherwise  uninviting  walls.  A  brass  name- 


184  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

plate  alone  showed  signs  of  care,  and  on  its  polished  face 
one  read  the  name — 

"  JEREMIAH  SCHARWACHTER." 

Gustav  pulled  the  bell  and  an  old  woman,  Scharwachter's 
cook,  maid,  and  housekeeper  in  one,  opened  the  door. 

"  Is  Herr  Scharwachter  at  home?  " 

"  I'll  see." 

"  I  can  do  that  myself." 

"  But  I  have  orders  not  to  announce  any  visitors." 

Pushing  her  aside,  as  he  would  a  piece  of  furniture, 
Gustav  knocked  at  the  inner  door,  then  entered  without 
waiting  for  a  response. 

"  Good  morning." 

Herr  Scharwachter  was  seated  at  his  desk  on  a  high 
stool;  he  turned  his  head,  then  drew  his  smooth-shaven 
chin  back  into  the  depths  of  his  neckcloth  like  an  offended 
turtle. 

"  I  did  not  say  '  Come  in '  when  you  knocked,"  he 
complained. 

"  It  is  I,  father-in-law." 

"  I  can  see  that,  but  I  did  not  say  '  Come  in.'  " 

"  Very  well !  Then  you  did  not  say  '  Come  in.'  Now, 
come  down  off  your  stool;  I  want  to  talk  to  you." 

"  It  gives  me  no  pleasure  to  see  you  here." 

"  No,"  said  Gustav,  taking  off  his  hat,  "  it  is  no  pleas- 
ure to  either  of  us,  nor  is  it  a  pleasant  thing  to  have  one's 
wife  run  away.  Where  is  she?  " 

The  little  weazened  man  climbed  down  from  his  stool 
and  buttoned  his  high  frock  coat  up,  with  an  attempt  at 
chilling  dignity. 

"If  you  are  speaking  of  my  daughter,  I  must  insist 
on  a  politer  tone.  You're  not  talking  of  one  of  your  fac- 
tory girls." 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  185 

"  Well,  she  did  run  away,  didn't  she?  " 

"  No,  she  merely  abandoned  a  marriage  bed  that  was  no 
longer  fit  for  a  Christian  woman." 

"  Not  Christian?    I  don't  understand  what  you  mean." 

"  No,  unhappily  for  all  of  us,  you  have  never  known 
what  that  would  mean.  Had  you  done  so  you  would  not 
have  had  to  come  here  as  a  suppliant  today." 

"A  suppliant?  Listen  to  me,  father-in-law.  You 
might  as  well  drop  that  high  and  mighty  tone.  There 
is  no  question  of  my  asking  favors  or  forgiveness.  I  am 
making  a  demand.  Call  Emily  down  here !  " 

"You  dare  to  order  me  about  in  my  own  house?  A 
fellow  like  you  who  ought  to  be  down  on  his  knees  before 
me?" 

Gustav  laughed  mirthlessly.  "Well,  what  next?  Be 
brief ;  I  have  no  time  to  waste." 

"  Take  your  valuable  time  then  and  use  it  to  your 
conscience.  That  would  be  better  use  for  it  than  to  plan 
further  adultery  in " 

"Father-in-law!!" 

The  little  man  cringed  for  a  moment  before  the  other's 
threatening  attitude ;  then  he  stretched  out  his  turtle  neck 
to  its  fullest  length  and  began  to  hurl  accusations  at  him. 

"  You  won't  lie  and  try  to  deny  that  you  have  affairs 
with  your  factory  girls.  That  you  wait  for  them  in  dark 
corners — pah — to  hug  and " 

"  Great  heavens !  The  poor  innocent  things.  Well,  go 
on." 

"  Yes,  indeed,  'go  on  ' !  On  and  on !  Your  conscience 
tells  you  that  there  is  more  to  tell  or  you  would  not  have 
said  *  go  on.'  Like  a  good  and  faithful  wife,  Emily  for- 
gave you  seven  times  and  seven  times  seventy  and  plead 
with  you  gently  and  earnestly,  gave  you  a  living  example 
of  right  living " 


186  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

"Are  you  through,  father-in-law?" 

"  With  you?  Long  ago  !  But  not  nearly  through  with 
the  list  of  your  sins  and  offenses.  Even  the  betrothed  of 
your  good  brother  was  not  safe  in  your  presence.  How 
could  a  pious  Christian  wife  like  Emily  fail  to  turn  away 
with  loathing  and  flee  the  house  into  which  you  brought 
the  sins  of  Sodom  and  Gomorrah  ?  " 

With  difficulty  Gustav  still  controlled  himself. 

"  Leave  these  Biblical  allusions  out  of  your  conversa- 
tion and  talk  like  an  ordinary  human  being.  This  is 
nothing  but  a  case  of  jealousy,  pure  and  simple,  and 
I  have  never  given  Emily  the  slightest  grounds  for 
jealousy." 

"  Whoever  looks  upon  a  woman  with  desire  of  the  eyes 
has  already  committed  adultery  in  his  heart.  You  can 
find  the  text  for  that  in  St.  Matthew,  chapter  five,  verse 
twenty-eight.  And  you  not  only  looked  upon  and  desired 
your  brother's  betrothed;  you  let  your  perverse  instincts 
master  you  and  seized  the  first  opportunity  to  kiss  her 
secretly." 

"  Who  says  that?  " 

"  Emily." 

"  It's  an  infamous  1 "  He  broke  off,  took  out  his 

handkerchief,  and  mopped  his  forehead.  Then  he  said, 
with  forced  quietness :  "  Call  Emily.  This  is  a  matter 
that  we  two  must  discuss,  and  we  alone." 

Herr  Scharwachter  looked  coldly  past  him. 

"  Go  on,  call  her,"  insisted  Gustav.  "  She  need  not  be 
afraid  of  me,  I  promise  you." 

"  Emily  is  not  here." 

"Well,  if  she  can  go  out  walking,  she  cannot  be  so 
greatly  disturbed,  after  all."  He  pulled  out  his  watch. 
"  It  is  just  midday;  you  must  expect  her  back  soon;  she's 
the  soul  of  punctuality." 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  187 

"  She  will  not  be  back  for  midday  dinner  here  to-day, 
for  she  is  not  here." 

"  What  do  you  mean?    Not  in  Barmen?  " 

"  She  has  taken  the  children  and  gone  to  visit  her  Aunt 
Josephine  in  Diisseldorf.  She  expects  to  stay  there  for 
the  present,  at  least." 

"Gone — without  asking — my — consent?  " 

"  You  are  to  be  given  a  time  of  probation,  and  must 
submit  to  it.  When  you  have  decided  to  mend  your  ways 
and  are  sincerely  penitent,  you  may  go  and  fetch  her 
home." 

"  Without — my — consent  ?  "  repeated  Gustav,  not  heed- 
ing his  father-in-law's  speech. 

"  But  with  the  approval  of  her  father.  As  I  have 
said,  when  you " 

"  Make  an  end  of  your  inane  twaddle.  Himmel  Donner- 
wetter!  Is  it  your  place  or  mine  to  rule  my  wife?  " 

"  As  her  husband  had  lost  all  moral  right  to  any  author- 
ity over  her,  the  poor  child  returned  to  the  protection  of 
her  father.  Only  the  moral  man  has  a  right  to  rule  over 
the  lives  of  others.  The  debauchee  has  none  whatever, 
and  no  Christian  woman  can  submit  to  such  a  one  without 
sin.  I  have  brought  up  my  poor  daughter  in  the  true 
Christian  spirit." 

"  You  would  have  done  better  to  teach  her  a  little 
human  spirit.  You  have  turned  the  Ten  Commandments 
and  the  God  who  gave  them  into  things  of  abhorrence  to 
all  real  human  beings." 

"  I  permit  no  such  blasphemy  in  my  house." 

"  You  are  the  real  blasphemer.  You  think  the  king- 
dom of  God  is  your  own  personal  property  and  that  you 
alone  hold  the  keys.  All  because  you  have  learned  the 
Bible  by  heart  and  can  quote  it  patly  to  fit  your  narrow 
beliefs.  Your  religion  is  one  of  sins,  punishment,  evil. 


188  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

God  made  this  world,  and  when  it  was  finished  He  looked 
upon  all  He  had  made  and  saw  it  was  good,  yet  you  would 
have  it  that  this  same  world  is  nothing  but  a  '  sink  of 
iniquity.'  If  that  is  not  a  direct  insult  to  the  living  God, 
I'll  renounce  my  faith  and  be  an  atheist  for  the  rest  of  my 
life." 

"  Out  of  my  house— infidel." 

"  You  would  do  better  to  go  out  of  it  yourself.  People 
like  you  should  shut  themselves  up  in  cloisters,  really  re- 
nounce the  world  that  they  profess  to  hate,  instead  of 
bringing  children  into  it  and  blinding  them  by  your  teach- 
ings so  that  the  very  sun  looks  gray  to  them.  What  do 
you  know  of  responsibility,  duty  ?  " 

"  I  am  responsible  for  the  purity  of  my  daughter  and 
must  see  that  she  leaves  this  vale  of  tears  unspotted." 

"Vale  of  tears?  You're  right,  but  your  kind  are  the 
ones  that  make  it  tearful  with  your  sighs  and  long  faces. 
If  you  wished  to  keep  your  daughter  so  pure  and  un- 
worldly, why  did  you  give  her  to  a  strapping  fellow  like 
me  instead  of  putting  her  in  a  convent?  I  hold  you  re- 
sponsible for  all  the  troubles  I  have  had  in  my  married 
life;  you  and  not  Emily.  She  is  only  the  victim  of  your 
cursed  system  of  education.  It  is  enough  to  make  one 
weep  to  see  so  many  of  our  robust  valley  girls  going  about 
with  long  faces,  the  slaves  of  a  false  sense  of  religious 
duty  that  turns  every  natural  joy  into  a  sin.  Is  it  any 
wonder  that  they  find  marriage  a  thing  of  sorrow  and  cor- 
ruption, when  they  carry  the  seeds  of  sorrow  and  evil  in 
their  very  wedding  garments?  Would  it  not  be  better 
sense,  better  religion,  to  teach  them  the  joy  of  living  in 
all  its  natural  innocence,  to  let  them  look  the  world  frankly 
in  the  face,  and  then  say,  with  all  true  piety :  '  Heaven 
must  be  very  wonderful  indeed  if  it  is  better  than  this  good 
earth  of  ours.'  Perhaps  then,  but  surely  not  till  then, 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  189 

shall  the  Wupper  valley  see  a  race  of  men  born  without 
any  crooked  or  tangled  thread  in  either  the  warp  or  the 
woof.  A  fabric  to  make  our  manufacturers'  souls  proud." 

Herr  Scharwachter  had  listened  to  this  tirade,  fairly 
trembling  with  rage.  Now  the  turtle  head  shot  forward 
and  he  shook  a  skinny  forefinger  under  Gustav's  nose.  A 
moment  passed  before  he  was  master  of  his  voice;  then 

he  shrieked :  "  You — you Herr  Gustav  Wiskotten,  I 

give  you  formal  notice  that  I  shall  withdraw  my  loan  to 
your  factory." 

Gustav  stared  at  him  incredulously.  Then  his  expres- 
sive features  slowly  hardened  into  a  mask  of  iron. 

"  Do  you  mean  by  that  that  you  are  to  sever  all  busi- 
ness connections  with  us  and  that — Emily ?  " 

"  You  have  ears.  I  repeat  that  I  shall  call  in  the  loan 
on  January  first." 

"  Have  you — considered  the  consequences  ?  " 

"  When  you  are  ruined  to  the  last  penny  you'll  remem- 
ber this  day  and  realize  that  you  have  been  justly  pun- 
ished. Your  wealth  will  crumble  away  like  sand  before 
the  tide." 

"  Who  spoke  of  my  business?    I  was  thinking  of  yours." 

"  You'll  have  no  heart  for  such  sorry  jests  when  you 
are  trying  to  raise  that  money.  Don't  think  for  a  mo- 
ment that  the  people  here  have  forgotten  the  stand  you 
took  in  the  strike  against  your  own  class.  You'll  pay  for 
that  now  too,  along  with  your  other  sins." 

"  I'm  trying  to  raise  money ;  so  far,  you're  right. 
To  raise  money  that  is  bound  to  make  money,  and  I  de- 
sired to  let  my  wife's  father  have  his  share  in  the  returns." 

"  You  and  I  can  have  no  further  business  dealings  with 
each  other — and  you — you — shall  be  utterly  ruined." 

"  So  you  declare  war  ?  War  between  our  two  firms  ? 
Very  well,  Herr  Scharwachter,  war  it  shall  be,  war  to  the 


190  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

knife.  You  are  the  one  and  only  cause  of  my  married 
unhappiness.  You  brought  up  Emily  in  a  way  that  made 
her  unfit  to  be  any  man's  wife,  and  then  gave  her  to  me 
to  further  your  business  plans.  You  feared  my  mother's 
business  competition  and  sacrificed  your  daughter  to  pro- 
tect yourself.  Since  then  you  have  prospered  and  now 
you  expect  us  all  to  dance  to  the  tune  of  your  clinking 
money  bags,  but  your  God  is  not  the  only  one.  You  shall 
learn  that  there  is  a  God  of  the  unafraid,  the  truthful, 
honest  worker.  Here,  see  our  oriflamme,  our  gauge  of 
battle,  Herr  Scharwachter."  He  drew  some  samples  from 
his  pocket  and  flung  them  before  the  old  man.  "  This — and 
this  will  lead  the  Wiskotten  forces  to  victory.  Copy  these, 
if  you  can,  my  little  man,  but  do  it  fast  and  well  or  inside 
of  a  year  we'll  have  you  and  your  old-fashioned  rags  out 
in  the  street.  We'll  hound  the  steps  of  your  salesmen  and 
cry  our  *  new  wares  for  old,'  underbid  you  everywhere, 
and  rob  you  of  your  last  customer.  Yes,  you  heard  cor- 
rectly, underbid !  Yes,  yes,  you  shall  have  your  money  on 
the  first  of  January.  Put  it  in  Prussian  consols  instead 
of  your  factory,  if  you  want  to  save  it.  Good  day ! " 

The  door  closed  behind  him,  the  iron  gate  slammed.  He 
strode  away  without  a  single  backward  glance,  and  his 
step  was  firm  as  he  returned  to  his  deserted  home.  Once 
there  he  set  about  adjusting  his  life  to  the  new  order  of 
things.  Calling  the  maidservant,  he  announced :  "  Minna, 
my  wife  has  gone  to  Diisseldorf  with  the  children.  Old 
Scharwachter's  sister  is  ill  and  she  has  gone  to  care  for 
her.  It  is  uncertain  how  long  she  may  have  to  stay.  She 
took  the  children,  as  it  would  be  very  lonely  for  her  there 
alone  with  the  old  lady.  Meanwhile  you  can  take  a  vaca- 
tion. I  shall  not  need  you." 

"  Really,  Herr  Wiskotten?  " 

"  Yes ;  your  wages  will  continue  as  usual.    Frau  Wiskot- 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  191 

ten  will  send  you  word  when  she  is  ready  for  you.  When 
does  the  train  leave  for  your  town  ?  " 

"  The  Gevelsberg  train  leaves  at  two,  Herr  Wiskotten." 

"  That  leaves  you  an  hour.  Can  you  be  ready  by 
then?" 

"  I'll  dress  right  away,  Herr  Wiskotten." 

She  hurried  off,  afraid  that  she  might  be  called  back 
and  lose  the  unexpected  holiday.  Half  an  hour  later 
she  was  on  her  way  to  the  station,  bag  and  baggage,  with 
one  of  Christian's  children  helping  her  to  carry  her  hastily 
packed  things.  She  had  altogether  forgotten  to  bid  her 
master  good-by. 

"  That's  a  good  riddance,"  thought  Gustav,  as  he 
watched  the  retreating  figure.  "  She  would  only  have 
pried  and  gossiped.  Now  the  place  is  cleaned  out." 

Deep  in  unhappy  thoughts  he  walked  through  the  empty 
rooms.  At  the  door  of  the  nursery  he  called  an  involun- 
tary "  Hello !  "  then  put  a  hand  up  to  cover  his  burning 
eyeballs  and  press  back  the  hot  tears  his  manhood  would 
not  let  him  shed.  A  sudden  utter  weariness  overcame 
him  and  he  sat  down  heavily  on  one  of  the  little  beds,  his 
hungry  hands  caressing  the  pillows  where  childish  heads 
should  have  been.  "  My  God ! "  he  said,  "  I  can  never 
stand  this,  never " 

The  last  barriers  of  pride  and  reserve  were  down  and 
he  flung  himself  down  in  an  agony  of  silent  grief,  biting 
the  pillows  to  keep  back  the  rending  sobs. 

Outside,  the  factory  whistle  shrilled  and  the  clatter  of 
the  returning  feet  of  his  workmen,  the  rattle  of  their 
empty  dinner  pails  being  set  down,  the  various  noises  that 
marked  the  end  of  the  midday  rest  period,  rose  from  the 
court,  but  he  did  not  hear  them.  He  lay  rigid  and  silent, 
longing  for  his  children. 

The  hall  clock  struck  the  hour,  ticked  on,  struck  again, 


192  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

and  continued  its  ticking,  with  no  other  sound  to  be  heard 
in  the  deserted  house.  When  it  struck  four  Gustav  started 
up,  counted  the  strokes,  passed  his  hand  over  his  fore- 
head, and  stood  up.  A  moment  he  stood  there  with  eyes 
closed,  striving  for  calm  and  self-control.  Then  he  said 
aloud,  "  Children  belong  to  their  mother."  Then,  as  if 
the  sound  of  his  own  voice  reassured  him :  "  But,  no ! 
They  cannot  be  taken  from  me  altogether.  They  belong 
with  their  mother,  but  she  belongs  here  and  they  shall 
one  day  bring  her  back." 

He  went  downstairs  to  the  tradesman's  door.  There 
was  a  letter  for  him  in  the  box,  and  he  unlocked  the  box 
and  took  it  out  in  nervous  haste,  almost  guiltily.  A  step 
sounded  above  and  he  shrank  back.  He  was  not  yet  com- 
posed enough  to  meet  anyone.  He  stood  there,  letter  in 
hand,  his  heart  beating  wildly,  hidden  from  sight  behind 
the  door. 

"  Gustav !  "  came  a  lusty  call. 

"  That's  Fritz,"  he  whispered,  to  himself. 

His  brother  clattered  up  the  stairs,  calling  his  name  in 
all  the  empty  rooms,  then  turned  and  went  out  grum- 
bling. Gustav  waited  an  instant,  then  he  tiptoed  to  the 
front  door,  bolted  it,  and  went  up  to  his  room  to  read 
the  letter.  The  writing  had  told  him  it  was  from  Emily. 

Now  that  he  was  free  from  interruption  he  hesitated 
to  open  the  letter.  He  read  it  slowly: 

"DEAR  GUSTAV:— 

"  I  have  gone  with  the  children  to  Aunt  Josephine 
in  Diisseldorf.  The  children  think  it  is  only  a  pleas- 
ure trip,  and  I  shall  not  tell  them  otherwise.  You 
have  sinned  grievously  against  me;  not  yesterday 
alone.  Always.  Only  then  did  it  become  clear  to  me, 
and  father  approves  my  decision.  I  am  filled  with 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  193 

shame  that  we  did  not  live  a  truly  Christian  married 
life,  that  I  stifled  the  voice  of  my  conscience  and  lis- 
tened to  that  of  your  carnal  desires.  So  I  shall  stay 
with  the  children  in  Diisseldorf  until  you  promise  me 
that  you  will  act  differently,  and  bring  the  love  and 
fear  of  God  into  your  married  life  so  that  I  shall  no 
longer  feel  degraded  and  humiliated.  I  shall  wait 
and  pray  for  you.  Your  faithful  wife, 

"  EMILY." 

He  read  it  through  twice.  A  wave  of  surprise  and 
renewed  anger  swept  over  him.  "  What  was  this  ?  She 
was  ashamed?  Carnal  desires?  Degradation?  She  would 
pray?  "  He  bit  his  lips  to  keep  back  a  cry  of  grief  and 
rage ;  his  composure  .was  shattered  to  its  foundations.  He 
tore  the  letter  into  long,  narrow  strips  with  a  sudden  fierce- 
ness, then  crumpled  it  up  and  flung  it  from  him. 

With  his  hat  drawn  over  his  eyes  he  strode  with  as- 
sured and  quiet  calm  past  the  factory  and  down  the  street 
to  the  woods  that  lay  on  the  edge  of  the  city.  A  thousand 
memories  crowded  on  him  in  this  familiar  spot — pranks  of 
his  boyhood,  dreams  of  his  adolescence — and  he  welcomed 
them  gladly;  they  crowded  out  the  unhappy  events  of  his 
nearer  past.  He  gave  his  attention  to  the  small  shops 
and  warehouses  that  lined  the  Wupper  at  this  point — here 
a  small,  independent  dyer's  shop,  next  a  bleacher's,  and 
still  further  on  near  the  edge  of  the  wood,  where  the  river 
widened  into  a  pool,  were  the  few  small  ironmongers' 
forges  that  still  bade  defiance  to  the  all-devouring  iron 
manufacturers  of  Westphalia  that  threatened  their  exist- 
ence on  all  sides. 

Today,  in  his  own  emptiness  of  heart,  he  found  a  sud- 
den new  interest  in  all  these.  For  once  he  seemed  to  have 
plenty  of  time,  life  held  no  responsibilities  for  one  like 


194  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

him — one  whose  heart  and  mind  were  empty,  so  empty. 
He  was  eagerly  receptive  toward  the  thousand  impressions 
of  his  life  that  crowded  into  his  range  of  vision ;  he  felt 
himself  to  be  a  new,  strange  being  in  a  new,  strange 
world. 

In  the  wood  itself  he  came  upon  a  forge  pond  sur- 
rounded by  giant  oaks.  The  smithy  had  either  fallen  into 
ruins  or  become  too  small  for  the  growing  needs  of  the 
owner  and  was  being  torn  down.  Gustav  stopped  to  watch 
the  powerful  old  blacksmith  and  his  son  at  work.  The  old 
building  they  were  demolishing  seemed  like  the  dwelling 
of  some  legendary  giant.  Three  rugged  walls  of  rough- 
hewn  material,  the  fourth  the  luring  face  of  the  cliff 
that  rose  behind  it.  The  bronzed,  clear-eyed  men  of  the 
forest  were  grubbing  out  the  huge  fire  block,  and  after 
that  was  finished  they  rolled  it  out  with  mighty  heaves 
into  the  open.  The  sweat  streamed  from  their  faces  on  to 
their  heavy  shirts.  Gustav  stared  at  the  oaken  cyclops 
in  amazement.  The  old  smithy  had  stood  there  for  at 
least  two  centuries,  and  for  other  centuries  before  that 
this  massive  oaken  fire  block  had  stood  and  grown  as  a 
tree,  shaken  by  and  defying  the  storm  winds  of  the 
primeval  forest  world.  After  the  storms  came  the  fire  of 
the  forges,  and  still  its  stout  heart  stood  the  test  and  was 
sound  and  hard.  Massive  and  unbroken  it  lay  there,  ready 
to  resist  and  defy  the  assaults  of  other  centuries,  letting 
no  blow,  no  flame  touch  it  in  its  innermost  strength.  A 
child  of  nature  with  her  strength  and  fortitude. 

The  blacksmith  turned  to  Gustav.  "  There's  some  sub- 
stance to  that  old  fellow !  We  might  all  learn  something 
from  him,"  he  said,  pointing  to  the  great  log. 

Gustav  nodded,  and  patted  the  tough  wood  as  one  might 
caress  a  saddle-horse,  and  passed  onward  with  a  new 
picture,  a  new  idea  in  his  busy  mind,  which  even  here 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  195 

could  not  be  really  idle.  The  smithy  and  its  fire  block 
held  a  moral  for  him.  What  if  those  men  were  destroy- 
ing, changing  its  accustomed  dwelling  place,  did  not  the 
sturdy  heart  of  oak  remain  firm  and  stout?  It  was  un- 
changed by  all  the  rest.  The  thought  cheered  him.  He 
tried  to  imagine  the  inner  feelings  of  this  fettered  giant. 
No  doubt  it,  too,  dreamed  of  freedom  and  happiness  while 
dwarfish  beings  clambered  about  on  it  and  pressed  glow- 
ing coals  into  its  firm  substance.  It  lived  a  quiet  and 
strong  life  in  spite  of  fate,  untouched  by  change. 

He  stopped  with  a  great  laugh  that  was  all  courage  and 
no  mirth.  They  were  brothers  in  spirit  and  he,  too,  would 
defy  the  storms  and  fires — not  let  them  touch  his  heart. 

It  was  evening  when  he  emerged  from  the  forest  and 
the  lights  of  the  town  twinkled  before  him.  Now  his  hat 
was  pushed  back  far  on  his  head  and  his  forehead  serene, 
his  step  genuinely  firm  and  assured.  The  shouts  of  chil- 
dren sounded  as  he  approached  the  houses.  Glowing  red 
dots  moved  hither  and  thither  in  the  streets.  Was  there 
to  be  a  torchlight  procession?  What  day  was  it,  anyway? 
He  thought  a  moment  and  recalled  that  it  was  St.  Martin's 
day — "  Maden,"  as  the  valley  people  called  it  in  their 
patois.  It  was  an  especial  festival  for  the  children.  Last 
year  his  own  had  taken  part  in  it,  and  he  had  made  them 
jack-o'-lanterns  with  grotesque,  grinning  faces.  The  chil- 
dren had  put  candles  in  them  and  carried  them  proudly  on 
long  sticks,  going  to  their  grandparents'  houses,  where 
they  waved  them  before  the  windows  and  sang  the* 
"  Marten  song,"  begging  for  apples,  pears,  and  nuts. 
Every  house  had  its  own  quota  of  childish  mendicants  and 
the  jack-o'-lanterns  grinned  kindly  down — friendly  moons 
in  a  heaven  of  childhood. 

A  troop  of  little  boys  and  girls  surrounded  him.  Their 
familiar  song  rose  in  a  childish  treble: 


196  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

"  Mdden  is  en  godden  Mann, 
Da  us  godd  wat  gens  en  kann, 
Die  Appel  und  die  Beer  en 
Die  Note  gont  woll  met."  * 

He  swept  the  group  with  burning  eyes,  as  if  his  own 
little  ones  must  be  among  them.  Then  he  turned  hastily 
into  a  side  street.  But  here,  too,  he  could  not  escape  the 
childish  forms,  the  sweet,  shrill  voices : 

"  Trepp  ow  un  aff, 
Trepp  ow  un  aff, 
Tast  man  in  den  NotesacJc — 
Tast  man  nich  donewen, 
Ka's  us  godd  wat  gewen"  f 

He  could  not  endure  the  sight  and  sound  of  them  and 
took  to  his  heels.  In  his  ears  rang  the  voices  of  his  own 
children — clever,  ambitious  Gustav  and  that  sweet  chat- 
terbox Emily.  Hush !  Hush !  He  must  not  listen  to  those 
voices.  They  sapped  his  pride  and  manhood. 

There  was  the  factory  and  his  house  at  last — but  still 
those  children  and  their  songs  everywhere.  Laughing  and 
begging,  they  sang  under  the  windows  of  his  silent,  de- 
serted home : 

"  Owen  in  dem  Eck 
Da  hdngt  dat  lange  Specif. 
Gewet  uns  dat  lange, 
Lot  dat  Teotte  hangen "  $ 

•German  folksong.  Martin  is  a  good  man,  gives  us  good  things, 
apples,  pears,  and  nuts  also. 

f  Up  and  down  the  stairs,  up  and  down  the  stairs,  put  your  hand 
in  the  nut  sack— not  the  next  one,  can  you  give  us  something? 

$  Up  in  the  corner  hangs  the  long  piece  of  bacon;  give  us  the 
long  one,  let  the  short  one  hang. 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  197 

"  Out  of  the  way,  you  young  (rascals !  " 

They  gave  way  before  his  stern  looks,  but  sang  mock- 
ing songs  at  him  once  he  had  passed,  but  he  went  on  his 
way  without  turning,  across  the  factory  courtyard  to  the 
buildings.  A  human  form  detached  itself  from  the  shadows 
and  approached  him. 

"Mother!" 

"  Where  have  you  been  ?  We've  been  hunting  you  all 
day.  Don't  you  know  that  we're  working  overtime  to- 
day? " 

"  That's  good.    I'll  go  to  the  machine  house  at  once." 

"  Where  were  you,  Gustav?  " 

"  Out  for  a  walk." 

She  gripped  his  hand  in  her  own  firm,  strong  ones. 
"Gustav?" 

"What,  Mother?" 

"  It's  not  your  habit  to  go  walking  when  all  the  rest  of 
us  are  hard  at  work." 

"  I'll  not  do  it  again,  Mother,"  he  said,  trying  to  smile. 

"  Has  anything  happened — between  you  and  Emily  ?  " 

"  Emily — has  gone  to  Diisseldorf ." 

"For  how  long?" 

"  Mother— I  don't  know." 

The  firm  old  hand  was  trembling  now,  but  only  for  a 
few  pulse  beats.  Then  it  lay  quiet  once  more  in  that  of 
her  son.  "  Come." 

"Where,  Mother?" 

"  Here,  where  no  one  can  see  us." 

The  dye  works  had  shut  down  at  the  usual  hour,  al- 
though there  were  night  shifts  in  the  other  buildings. 
Here  everything  was  dark  and  silent;  only  the  continual 
murmur  of  the  Wupper  broke  on  the  boundary  walls. 
Mother  and  son  walked  side  by  side,  their  strong  hands 
clasped  in  unaccustomed  familiar  tenderness.  Then  Gus- 


198  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

tav  unlocked  the  door  of  the  new  dye  house,  turned  on 
the  gas  and  lit  it. 

"  Sit  down,  Mother ;  you're  tired." 

"Yes,  but  I  waited  in  the  courtyard  for  you  so  no 
one  would  notice." 

"  You  must  not  worry  about  me,  Mother.  I'm  no 
sapling,  no  worthless  kindling  wood.  I'm  like  that  oaken 
block  I  saw  to-day  in " 

"What's  that?" 

"  Ach,  nothing!  Just  an  idea  of  mine.  Now  let's  sit 
down  sociably  on  one  of  the  dye  ovens." 

"  Can  you  tell  me — why  Emily — is  gone?  " 

"  Mother,  you  would  not  understand.  It  is  something 
intimate  in  our  married  life." 

"  I  know  what  marriage  means.  Have  I  not  borne  your 
father  six  sons  ?  " 

He  reached  for  her  hands,  helplessly,  awkwardly.  Ca- 
resses were  rare  between  this  mother  and  son.  He  opened 
his  mouth  twice  before  the  words  came;  finally  he  asked, 
"  Did  you  ever  feel  ashamed?  " 

"Never!" 

He  bent  down  and  gazed  earnestly  into  aged,  toil- 
marked  hands. 

"You  were  always  very  happy  together,  you  and 
father?  " 

"  All  our  married  life." 

"  You  don't  think  it  any  sin  against  religion  for  a  man 
to  take  pleasure  in  his  wife?  " 

"  No,  but  it  is  not  a  matter  to  talk  about." 

"Very  well,  Mother,  we  shall  never  talk  of  it  again. 
There  will  be  no  need." 

"  She  will  come  back,  Gustav.  A  woman  who  has  once 
been  a  wife  must  come  back  to  her  husband,  even  if  it  be 
to  hell  itself." 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  199 

"  She  says  she  will  pray  for  me."  He  rose  and  strode 
up  and  down  the  room.  The  old  woman  sat  waiting  for 
him  to  calm  himself. 

"  But  if  she  does  not  come,"  he  went  on,  "  I  shall  never 
go  there  for  her.  She  went  of  her  own  free  will  and  she 
must  come  back  the  same  way.  I  could  not  entrust  her 
with  my  happiness  again  on  any  other  terms.  But  at  worst 
I  still  have  my  work  to  occupy  me." 

"  There  is  enough  of  that,  at  any  rate." 
"  Old  Scharwachter  has  called  in  his  loan." 
"  Has  the  whole  family  gone  crazy  ?  "     The  old  woman 
rose  to  her  feet  and  seemed  to  grow  taller  in  her  anger. 

"  Mother,  I  shall  push  him  to  the  wall,  never  fear ! "  he 
said,  vehemently. 

"  And  you  just  said  you  had  no  interest  in  life?  " 
"  Ah,  Mother !    You  and  I  will  do  it  together." 
"  There's  still  strength  and  marrow  in  my  old  bones. 
Let  them  come." 

"  War  to  the  knife !  Hurrah !  Nothing  better  than  that 
for  me  just  now!  I'm  ready  for  battle." 

Gustav  drew  in  a  deep  breath  with  distended  nostrils, 
like  a  war  horse  that  scents  battle.  He  thought  of  the 
oak  log  in  the  forest  smithy  and  a  great  Viking  laugh 
burst  from  him. 

"  Let's  hear  our  battle  music,"  he  said,  turning  to  the 
silent  machinery.  In  a  moment  the  great  transmission 
belts  were  whirring  and  the  great  monster  of  toil  was  in 
motion.  Gustav  went  from  steam  pipe  to  steam  pipe,  open- 
ing the  cocks,  and  the  steam  roared  and  hissed  out,  filling 
the  room, — urgent,  thrilling  "  song  of  toil."  And  in  the 
midst  of  it  all  stood  Gustav,  his  eyes  flaming  with  the  lust 
of  battle,  with  the  defiance  of  life  and  its  threatened  defeats 
that  he  had  inherited  from  the  dauntless  mother  who  stood 
beside  him,  ready  as  ever  for  her  share  in  the  conflict. 


SECOND  PART 
CHAPTER  I 

DOWN  the  steep  street  leading  to  the  Wupper  the  small 
hand  sleds  swished  over  the  freshly  fallen  snow.  The 
boys  held  the  reins  tightly  in  their  clenched  hands,  guid- 
ing the  sleds  skillfully,  their  heels  digging  into  the  snow. 
They  had  taken  up  girls  in  front  of  them  and  imagined 
themselves  knights,  heroes  of  adventure.  Shrill  cries  rang 
out:  "Look  out — hello!  hello!"  Little  did  these  joyous 
youngsters  care  if  a  treacherous  stone  hidden  under  the 
snow  overturned  a  sled,  fair  burden  and  all.  Dresses  and 
knickerbockers  were  shaken  free  from  the  snow,  and  with 
a  shout  back  they  were  on  the  sled  and  off  again. 

Snow  men  stood  guard  in  front  of  the  houses  ;  the  laugh- 
ing factory  girls  were  bombarded  with  snowballs ;  on  the 
slippery  pavements  dignified  pedestrians  walked  cau- 
tiously, both  fearful  for  and  angry  at  the  urchins  and 
their  coasting;  policemen  went  from  house  to  house  or- 
dering the  inhabitants  to  strew  ashes ;  the  snow  danced 
in  the  air ;  the  new  moon  shone ;  the  town  was  full  of  Win- 
ter rejoicing. 

On  St.  Nicholas'  day  the  children  set  out  their  shoes 
on  the  window  ledge  lest  that  faithful  servant  of  the 
Christ  child  might  miss  them  when  he  distributed  his  gifts. 
In  the  bakers'  shops  gingerbread  men  with  Dutch  pipes 
in  their  mouths  were  stared  at  eagerly  by  the  boys.  The 
toy  shops  were  crowded  with  new  toys.  Inside  the  houses, 
mothers  and  elder  sisters  worked  steadily  and  secretly. 
200 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  201 

Christmas  came,  bringing  its  lighted  trees,  its  joyous 
songs,  its  subtle  sadness  for  the  grown-ups,  its  sheer  de- 
light for  the  children.  Then  the  bells  of  New  Year's 
Eve  rang  through  the  valley;  in  the  churches  rich  and 
poor  sat  side  by  side  on  this  last  night  of  the  year. 
The  fumes  of  punch  floated  through  the  houses.  On 
New  Year's  Day  the  children  raced  through  the  streets, 
again  exchanging  their  good  wishes  for  cookies  and 
candies. 

Frost  and  thaw  came  and  went.  The  factory  chimneys 
smoked  on  steadily.  The  charm  of  the  Advent  season 
passed,  and  Epiphany  brought  with  it  a  return  to  work. 

This  year  the  Wiskottens  did  not  celebrate  Christmas. 
It  is  true  they  met  together  at  their  parents'  to  exchange 
gifts,  but  there  were  gaps  in  the  ranks  which  everybody 
carefully  avoided  noticing.  Concerning  their  hopes  and 
fears  for  the  factory,  nobody  wanted  to  speak  at  such  a 
time.  Sorrowfully  their  glances  met  and  evaded  one 
another,  sorrowfully  they  parted.  As  soon  as  the  gifts 
were  distributed  Gustav  went  home.  There  he  found  a 
letter  from  his  wife  and  some  little  gifts  from  the  chil- 
dren. He  took  them  up — laid  them  down — took  them  up 
again  and  held  them  in  his  hand  till  he  went  to  bed.  He 
thought  of  the  box  of  toys  he  had  sent  to  Diisseldorf  at 
the  last  minute,  by  special  delivery;  for  till  the  last  mo- 
ment he  had  hoped.  When  he  came  in  from  the  factory 
he  had  listened  eagerly  in  the  hall,  but  the  hoped-for  had 
not  happened. 

"  She  persists  in  her  obstinacy ;  if  I  yield  it  will  be  for 
always.  I  will  not  be  buried  alive." 

He  slept  uneasily,  and  Anna  Kolsch,  who  came  early 
each  morning  to  do  the  housework,  was  frightened  when 
she  saw  him. 

"  Oh,  Herr  Wiskotten !  "  she  cried,  tears  in  her  eyes. 


202  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

"Why,  child,  what's  the  matter?  You  are  not  going 
to  cry,  surely.  There's  no  reason  for  that,  none  at  all." 

"  Father  told  me  to  ask  you  to  spend  one  of  the  holidays 
with  us." 

"  Thank  you,  Anna,  but  I  have  grown  used  to  taking 
my  meals  with  my  parents.  Nobody  minds  there  if  I  don't 
talk,  and  besides  I  want  to  take  a  long  walk  in  the  moun- 
tains. Tell  your  father  I'll  come  another  time.  Next 
week,  perhaps,  in  the  New  Year." 

The  girl  nodded.  "  All  right,  Herr  Wiskotten,  don't 
forget,  but  that's  a  promise." 

Every  afternoon  in  his  loneliness  Gustav  Wiskotten 
wandered  up  over  the  solitary  white  road  beside  the  Wup- 
per ;  up  to  the  silent  mountains  through  the  snow- 
covered  woods  till  he  came  at  last  to  the  newly  erected 
smithy.  And  each  time  he  rejoiced  to  see,  still  in  its 
place,  the  oak  log,  which  neither  iron  nor  flame  had  suc- 
ceeded in  destroying. 

In  the  first  week  in  January,  William  Wiskotten 
brought  home  his  young  wife  to  the  villa  which  stood 
above  the  town  on  a  pleasant  site  reclaimed  from  the  woods 
by  nature-loving  inhabitants. 

This  time  Gustav  was  not  present  to  receive  them.  A 
few  days  later  he  went  to  call.  He  found  Mabel  alone. 

"  Dear  Gustav."  She  took  his  hands  and  held  them  in 
hers. 

"  Is  that  all?  "  he  asked,  laughing.  "  Since  when  have 
I  ceased  to  deserve  a  sisterly  kiss  ?  " 

She  kissed  him  heartily,  then  looked  at  him  searchingly. 

"  My  kiss  brought  you  bad  luck  once." 

"  What  makes  you  think  that?    I  don't." 

"  Now  you're  sarcastic." 

"  Don't  ever  let  that  worry  you,  Mabel.  I'm  not  joking. 
I  really  mean  it." 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  203 

They  sat  down  opposite  to  one  another,  and  the  young 
wife  gazed  thoughtfully  out  of  the  window,  far  out  across 
the  snow-covered  valley. 

"Listen,  Gustav.  Good  taste  decrees  that  one  should 
not  touch  on  certain  subjects,  that  one  should  appear  as 
usual  at  times  of  deepest  stress  and  trouble.  Gustav," 
she  looked  him  full  in  the  eyes,  "  let  us  disregard  good 
taste.  I  consider  it  barbarous.  If  we  saw  our  neighbor's 
house  on  fire,  we  should  not  hesitate  to  help  put  it  out." 

"  That's  true  enough,"  answered  Gustav. 

"  Well,  sometimes  it's  a  kind  of  help  to  one's  neighbor 
just  to  know  that  one  is  there  ready  and  willing  to  help, 
even  if  one  can  only  bring  a  pail  of  water." 

"  Just  what  do  you  mean  by  help  in  my  case  ?  " 

"  The  recognition  of  your  wound ;  I  won't  go  on  pre- 
tending that  there's  nothing  wrong.  Talk  things  over 
with  me.  I  am  a  Wiskotten  now,  and  the  Wiskottens  are 
a  united  family.  I  am  proud  to  belong  to  them." 

"  Shake  hands,  Mabel.  You're  a  plucky  woman,  and 
your  heart's  in  the  right  place.  That  kiss  of  yours  did 
not  really  bring  me  ill  luck,  as  you  think.  It  brought 
me  luck,  Wait,  listen !  That  kiss  was  my  deliverance — 
deliverance  from  a  number  of  disagreeable  things — things 
that  were  destroying,  not  my  capacity  for  work,  but  all 
my  joy  in  living.  I  was  about  to  plunge  into  outer  dark- 
ness, for  all  time — morose,  as  I  am  by  nature,  and  worn 
out  by  the  constant  struggle  with  Emily.  I  should  have 
gone  under,  I  say,  if  you  had  not  come  and  shown  me 
how  different  it  might  be." 

"  Then  it  was  my  fault,  after  all?  " 

"Your  fault?  Mabel,  how  can  you  say  such  a  thing? 
No,  no,  little  one,  it  was  you  who  gave  me  the  courage, 
great,  clumsy  fellow  that  I  am,  to  break  from  the  web 
that  was  gradually  entangling  me.  You  did  well,  and  I 


204  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

thank  you  for  it  with  all  my  heart.  Heavens  !  I  suffer  the 
fiery  torments  of  hell,  but  rather  that  than — than  freeze." 

"  Gustav."  She  stood  up  and  went  thoughtfully  to- 
ward the  door. 

"Well?" 

"  I'm  a  married  woman  too.  If  William  and  I  were 
ever  to  disagree " 

"  Well,  what  would  you  do?  " 

"  I  should  just  wait,  hoping  and  believing  that  he  would 
prove  the  stronger.  That's  what  I  should  do."  She  shut 
her  eyes,  bending  back  her  head.  "  That's  how  a  woman 
loves." 

She  came  toward  him,  holding  out  her  hand :  "  Don't 
let  her  conquer,  brother  mine.  It  would  be  a  pity,  for 
her  sake  and  yours." 


The  new  dye  works  vied  with  the  old  ones,  the  looms 
increased  in  number,  rattled  from  morning  to  night.  Yet 
the  faces  of  the  young  owners  were  not  happy,  and  around 
the  mouth  of  the  mother  the  lines  grew  deeper.  The 
mortgage  to  Emily's  father  was  in  arrears.  Mabel  of- 
fered her  dowry.  Fritz's  discovery  of  a  process  which 
would  give  to  cotton  the  sheen  and  general  appearance 
of  silk  had  more  than  fulfilled  their  expectations.  They 
could  make  colored  ribbons  and  black  laces  which,  be- 
cause of  their  cheapness,  defied  all  competition.  And  yet 
orders  came  in  slowly,  they  could  get  no  new  customers, 
and  the  warehouse  was  piled  up  with  unsold  stuffs.  What 
was  the  use,  then,  of  the  new  600  H.-P.  machine,  the  in- 
dustry of  the  workmen,  the  commercial  enterprise  of  the 
owners?  It  all  came  to  this:  overproduction. 

In  February,  as  William  Wiskotten  returned  from  an  al- 
most fruitless  business  trip,  the  word  weighed  upon  his  mind 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  205 

like  a  parting  knell.  Frau  Wiskotten  sat  alone  with  her 
sons  in  the  private  office.  A  holiday  silence  lay  over  the 
factory. 

"  Out  with  it,  William,"  said  Gustav.  "  We  could  not 
judge  much  from  your  letters." 

"  As  you  imagine,  I  did  all  I  could." 

"  That's  understood.     Go  on." 

"  I  called  on  all  old  Scharwachter's  customers,  and 
everywhere  met  with  the  same  reception.  They  looked  at 
my  samples,  praised  them,  inquired  our  prices." 

"  Well,  and  then?    Weren't  they  surprised?  " 

"  No,  I  was." 

The  brothers  stared  at  one  another. 

"Impossible;  they  thought  them  too  dear.  Perhaps 
they  wanted  real  silk  at  the  price." 

"  That's  exactly  what  they  wanted." 

"  No  joking,  William.  This  is  a  serious  matter.  What 
was  it  they  really  wanted?  " 

"  Exactly  what  I  said.     Real  silk  at  the  same  price." 

"  You're  mad.  Even  old  Scharwachter  could  not  do 
that." 

"  That's  just  what  he  is  doing,  nevertheless." 

"My  father-in-law?" 

"  Your  father-in-law.  The  firm  of  Jeremiah  Schar- 
wachter. I  had  full  proof  of  it." 

August  Wiskotten  made  a  rapid  calculation.  Then  he 
passed  the  paper  round. 

"  If  Scharwachter  is  selling  at  that  price,  he's  selling 
at  cost.  It  can't  be  a  business  matter  with  him." 

"  He  wants  to  make  things  hard  for  us,"  went  on  Fritz, 
the  inventor,  glumly,  "  to  annoy  and  frighten  us." 

"  Not  that,"  said  Frau  Wiskotten ;  "  he  means  to  break 
us." 

Gustav  walked  to  and  fro,  he  stood  at  the  window  and 


206  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

gazed  at  the  factory  grounds  and  buildings,  then  turned 
back  to  the  others. 

"  This  is  my  affair,  mine  alone,  that's  plain.  If  I  had 
not  quarreled  with  Emily,  we  should  have  been  out  of  the 
hole  long  ago.  Every  blow  that  Scharwachter  strikes 
is  aimed  at  me,  me  personally.  Is  there  any  doubt  of 
that?" 

The  brothers  looked  down  without  speaking. 

"  Nobody  questions  it  ?  Very  well  then,  you  don't 
imagine  for  a  moment  that  I  am  going  to  let  you  pull 
the  chestnuts  out  of  the  fire  for  me,  do  you?  That  I  am 
going  to  let  you  suffer  for  my  fault?  No,  no,  boys,  you 
must  allow  your  Gustav  a  little  pride  yet." 

"What  does  that  mean?"  asked  Frau  Wiskotten,  her 
glance  fixed  eagerly  on  her  eldest  son. 

"  It  means  two  things,  Mother.  First,  that  we  won't 
let  him  break  us,  not  just  yet;  not  if  it  costs  my  last 
cent.  Second,  notice  the  phrase,  *  my  last  cent,'  not  yours. 
If  I  have  got  you  into  this  mess,  I'm  going  to  get  you 
out  of  it.  I'll  do  it  too.  Please  don't  try  to  contradict 
me — anyone.  I  know  what  I'm  doing.  Now,  listen  care- 
fully. It's  a  question  of  who  can  hold  out  longest,  we  or 
Scharwachter.  For  my  part,  it's  a  matter  of  personal 
honor  with  me  now.  Scharwachter  is  underbidding  us  to 
ruin  us.  It  means  nothing  to  him  to  sell  for  a  year  or  two 
at  cost.  But  between  making  nothing  and  losing  there's 
a  difference.  And  he  shall  lose.  He  underbids  us.  So 
be  it.  We'll  underbid  him." 

"  Gustav,  are  you  out  of  your  senses  ?  The  factory 
could  never  stand  that,"  the  voices  of  the  brothers  came  in 
chorus. 

"  The  factory  is  not  expected  to  stand  it.  7  will  stand 
it." 

"You?" 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  207 

"  Yes,  /.  August  shall  count  up  what  my  interest  in 
the  factory  will  come  to,  together  with  what  will  come  to 
me  from  our  parents.  That  sum  I  will  sacrifice.  William, 
who  through  his  marriage  has  ready  money  to  dispose  of, 
will  be  good  enough  to  place  it  to  our  credit,  the  equivalent 
of  my  personal  effects.  When,  if  ever,  we  are  free  from 
all  difficulties,  the  factory  in  good  order  again,  and  I  in 
a  position  to  pay  all  this  back,  then  I  shall  take  up  my 
proper  place  again.  If  the  sum  is  lost,  William  will  take 
my  place,  and  I  shall  retire  definitely." 

Silence  reigned.  The  faces  of  the  energetic  young  mer- 
chants were  very  grave.  Then  Frau  Wiskotten  said, 
quietly,  "  Gustav  is  right."  He  nodded  to  her  without 
speaking.  William  tried  to  object;  the  others  too  pro- 
tested. The  old  lady  looked  calmly  round  the  circle. 
"  Gustav  is  right.  It  is  a  question  of  one  or  all.  One 
of  you  may  suffer ;  the  factory — never !  " 

They  all  acquiesced,  though  unwillingly.  Gustav  drew 
a  deep  breath.  His  eyes  were  lit  with  a  deep,  cold,  savage 
pride.  Now  he  was  master  of  his  fate,  though  but  for  a 
month  or  so.  He  was  master — Jeremiah  Scharwachter 
should  feel  it,  and  through  him — Emily. 

He  seized  his  hat  and  with  a  curt  good-by  left  them. 
For  an  hour,  at  least,  he  wandered  in  the  dark  round  the 

factory  buildings. 

*     *     *     *     * 

Two  weeks  later,  William  Wiskotten  started  on  another 
trip.  He  went  first  to  Berlin  and  from  there,  without 
returning  to  Barmen,  on  to  London,  taking  Paris  on  the 
return  trip.  He  was  fully  empowered,  wherever  he  met 
with  competition  from  Scharwachter,  to  lower  the  prices, 
to  get  orders  at  whatever  cost. 

At  home  they  awaited  results  with  feverish  impatience. 
The  first  letters  came.  The  orders  were  none  or  small, 


208  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

and  yet  Gustav  read  the  letters  with  a  bitter  sort  of  joy. 
William  wrote  that  the  customers  in  Berlin  had  already 
given  their  orders  to  Scharwachter,  but  that  when  he  had 
heard  their  price  he  had  expressed  his  regret,  with  the 
remark  that  he  could  have  offered  them  the  much  more 
delicately  finished  patented  Wiskotten  article  at  a  third 
less  than  they  were  paying  Scharwachter. 

These  customers  had  at  once  communicated  with  Schar- 
wachter, who  had  been  obliged,  after  many  evasions,  to 
make  a  reduction  in  price  or  lose  the  orders.  This  meant 
that  Scharwachter  was  actually  paying  out  money  at  a 
daily  increasing  loss. 

"  Paying  out  actual  money.  It's  like  pulling  teeth  to 
him." 

The  reports  from  London  were  on  the  same  lines,  but 
a  long  list  of  orders  was  inclosed.  The  sharp-witted  Eng- 
lish merchants  scented  the  fight  and  determined  to  take 
full  advantage  of  it.  By  telling  Scharwachter  of  the  ad- 
vantageous offers  made  them  they  forced  him  to  furnish 
them  with  goods  at  the  same  price  as  the  Wiskottens, 
at  the  same  time  giving  a  still  larger  order  to  the  latter 
firm. 

Gustav  Wiskotten  laughed.  "  Pretty  wide-awake — 
these  Englishmen.  No  matter,  it's  brought  life  into  the 
factory." 

The  factory  was  indeed  alive.  Both  engines  were  at 
work  again,  the  dye  works  in  full  swing,  and  the  looms 
turned  their  wooden  arms  with  the  old  familiar  rhythm, 
stretching  the  yarn,  weaving  the  ribbons. 

No  longer  did  the  girls  dare  waste  their  time  whisper- 
ing their  love  affairs.  In  the  packing  rooms  the  men 
worked  ceaselessly. 

"  Kolsch,"  said  Gustav,  one  day  to  his  foreman,  "  these 
are  good  times  we  are  having  now." 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  200 

"  How  long  is  it  going  to  last,  Herr  Gustav  ?  " 

"  As  long  as  we  can  hold  out." 

"  And  how  long  will  that  be?  " 

Gustav  shrugged  his  shoulders.  "  Have  you  heard  any- 
thing from  Scharwachter's?  " 

"  They  say  he  goes  about  with  a  face  as  white  as  a 
ghost." 

"  All  right,  Kolsch,  it  will  be  yellow  before  we've  done 
with  him." 

"  He's  pretty  tough,  Herr  Gustav." 

"  I'm  not  so  very  tender  myself.  There — just  look  at 
those  empty  rooms." 

"  But  they  brought  in  nothing." 

"  Brought  in  nothing?  Look  around  you.  Every- 
thing's alive.  People  working.  Wherever  you  look — 
industry,  contentment.  Do  you  call  that  nothing?  Isn't 
it  a  thousand  times  better  than  the  dawdling  and  idling  of 
the  past  few  months?  If  we  get  nothing  out  of  it  but 
the  delight  of  these  weeks  of  work,  great  Heavens,  man, 
we're  alive  again!" 

""  Thank  God  for  it,  Herr  Gustav.  I  haven't  heard  you 
speak  like  that  for  a  long  time." 

"  Happiness  is  a  queer  thing,  Kolsch.  With  me  it  starts 
in  my  hands,  flows  from  them  to  my  heart  and  back  again, 
reinforced." 

"  Herr  Wiskotten,  I've  been  thinking  at  night  when  I 
sit  there  with  my  pipe,  and  I've  an  idea." 

"Really?" 

"  It  seems  to  me  that  the  new  patent  would  be  more 
useful  if  we  combined  it  with  quite  new  and  original 
patterns.  The  process  itself  is  new  and  we  should  carry 
it  out  in  a  new  way.  People  must  see  at  a  glance  that 
there  is  a  vast  difference  between  our  wares  and  those  of 
Scharwachter  and  his  like.  They  must  be  fresh — fresh  as 


210  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

a  spring  morning.  We'll  have  them  all  patented.  Then 
let  them  gnash  their  teeth." 

"  Kolsch,  you're  a  wonder !  " 

"  Oh,  it's  easy  enough  in  theory." 

"  Kolsch,  you  are  a  fine  sentry.  While  I  sat  here  in 
the  dark  you've  been  asking  questions  of  the  stars.  My 
head  hasn't  been  worth  much  lately.  I  haven't  seen  the 
wood  for  the  trees." 

"  Private  troubles  are  harder  to  bear  than  business  ones, 
Herr  Gustav,  when  one  doesn't  know  how  it's  all  going 
to  end." 

"  Enough,  Kolsch — I  understand.  Come  along  with  me 
now  to  the  designer." 

Near  the  binding  room  a  little  man  bent  over  a  page 
of  squared  paper,  forming  intricate  patterns  with  dots, 
lines,  and  scrolls  for  ribbons. 

"  What  beautiful  things  are  you  at  work  on  now,  Herr 
Brinckmann?  May  I  see?  " 

"Delighted,  delighted,  Herr  Wiskotten."  The  little 
man  stepped  back,  rubbing  his  hands,  assured  of  the 
beauty  of  his  work. 

"  H'm,  explain  that  to  us." 

"  That  is  a  puncture  pattern,  background  white  or  any 
dull  shade,  with  tiny  stars  of  red  and  blue.  Pretty — isn't 
it?" 

"  Anything  else  new?  " 

The  little  man  opened  his  portfolio.  "Here's  a  pat- 
tern with  broken  stripes;  here  one  with  scrolls;  this  one, 
lightly  sketched  in,  has  circles  and  squares.  Here  we  have 
some  new  lace  patterns,  and " 

"  All  about  as  old  as  Methuselah.  Herr  Brinckmann, 
those  patterns  might  have  come  out  of  the  ark.  We  must 
have  something  new,  my  friend,  brand  new." 

"  But  these  are  new,  Herr  Wiskotten,  absolutely  new. 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  211 

Look  carefully.  No  two  patterns  are  alike.  You  will  find 
in  each  some  delicate,  subtle  difference." 

"  No  doubt  of  it,  Herr  Brinckmann,  but  what  I  want 
are  novelties,  not  variations  of  old  themes.  I  need  some- 
thing absolutely  original ;  nothing  less  will  satisfy  me. 
Rack  your  brains." 

The  dried-up  little  creature  smiled,  condescendingly. 
What  did  mere  men  of  business  understand  of  the  art  of 
design  ?  "  Very  good,  very  good,  Herr  Wiskotten.  I'll 
make  you  something  new,  the  newest  thing  possible." 

"  No,  no,  Herr  Brinckmann,  you  must  do  more  than  that. 
Anybody  can  do  the  possible.  To  beat  our  competitors 
we  must  do  the  impossible.  Then  we  can  defy  them.  I'll 
see  you  again  a  week  hence." 

"  Shall  be  delighted  to  see  you,  Herr  Wiskotten." 

"  That  old  fellow  has  about  as  much  imagination  as  a 
fly.  What  an  old  fossil!  About  once  a  year  he  lays 
an  egg  and  spends  the  rest  of  his  time  brooding  over  it, 
wondering  what  will  come  out  of  it — a  hen,  a  duck,  or  a 
cow.  If  you  were  to  suggest  to  him  a  golden  pheasant  or 
a  bird  of  paradise  for  a  change,  he  would  be  so  terribly 
upset  that  he  would  never  lay  again." 

"  We  need  an  infusion  of  new  blood,  Herr  Gustav." 

"  We  shall  have  it.    I'll  see  to  that !  " 

That  evening  Gustav  set  out  for  the  tavern.  Suddenly 
he  was  seized  with  an  intense  yearning  for  rest.  He  wanted 
to  stretch  his  legs  under  a  table  with  a  gleaming 
lamp  lighting  up  friendly  faces.  He  changed  his  course, 
going  toward  the  house  of  his  foreman.  He  rang. 
There  came  the  sound  of  hasty  footsteps,  and  Anna 
appeared. 

"  Good  evening,  Fraulein  Anna,  hiay  I  come  in  ?  " 

"  What  a  surprise !  You  have  come  just  at  the  right 
moment.  Do  you  smell  anything?  " 


212  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

"Potato  fritters?" 

"  How  pleased  father  will  be.  At  last  you  have  remem- 
bered your  promise — but,  there,  I  won't  scold." 

He  looked  deep  into  the  eyes  of  the  girl,  which  like 
twin  blue  seas  reflected  the  surroundings  with  an  added 
beauty. 

"  Scold  away,  it  sounds  like  a  song  to  me." 

Foreman  Kolsch  rose  in  surprise  from  his  armchair. 
"Herr  Gustav?" 

"Am  I  disturbing  you?  You  were  reading,  weren't 
you?" 

"  Only  till  Anna  there  is  ready  with  her  fritters.  They 
must  be  eaten  hot,  you  know.  They  take  some  time  to 
cook.  Is  it  a  favorite  dish  of  yours  ?  " 

"  Is  it  a  favorite  dish?  Wasn't  I  born  and  bred  by  the 
Wupper,  as  you  were  ?  " 

He  sat  down,  glanced  round  the  pleasant  room,  then 
leaned  back  lazily  in  his  chair.  Soon  he  realized  that  his 
irritability  had  entirely  left  him ;  he  felt  calm  and  con- 
tented. 

"What  are  you  reading,  Herr  Kolsch?" 

"  Jean  Paul." 

"  What's  the  fellow's  name?  " 

"  Jean  Paul,  Herr  Wiskotten.  He's  my  favorite  au- 
thor, especially  suited  to  old  fogies  like  me,  who  like  to 
look  back  and  watch  the  young  fools  following  the  same 
road  they  went  themselves.  It  makes  one  feel  so  superior." 

"Is  the  man  still  alive?" 

"  He  died  about  seventy-five  years  ago,  but  his  works 
will  live  forever." 

"  You  make  me  ashamed  of  my  ignorance.  I  never  heard 
of  the  man.  My  education  has  been  sadly  neglected.  I 
know  something  of  Schiller,  a  little  too  of  Goethe,  but 
outside  that  nothing  but  factory." 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  212 

"  Take  time  to  read  him  some  day,  Herr  Gustav.  It'll 
be  worth  your  while." 

"  Goodness,  what  a  lot  of  books  you  have.  So  far,  lit- 
erature has  meant  nothing  to  me." 

"  Poets  are  like  mothers,  Herr  Gustav ;  one  can  never 
return  to  them  too  late  or  in  vain." 

"  I'm  afraid  I'm  too  ill  equipped." 

"  All  the  better.  Those  who  are  not  accustomed  to  re- 
ceive gifts  usually  prove  the  most  grateful.  That's  my 

experience.  And  when  my  wife  died As  I  was  saying, 

poets  are  like  mothers." 

Gustav  rose  and  went  slowly  to  the  cupboard,  through 
the  glass  window  of  which  shone  the  gilt  of  the  covers. 
Thoughtfully  he  read  the  titles. 

"  Herr  Wiskotten,  my  library  is  at  your  disposal." 

"  Will  you,  indeed,  lend  me  something  ?  The  evenings 
are  long." 

"  With  the  greatest  of  pleasure." 

Anna,  in  a  long  white  apron,  brought  in  a  dish  of  crisply 
baked  fritters.  "  Please  excuse  the  apron.  I  have  to  stand 
close  to  the  stove  and  the  fat  spatters  all  round.  Please 
begin." 

"  Sit  down  with  us,  Fraulein  Anna." 

"  In  a  minute  or  two ;  I  must  bake  some  more  first,  so 
that  you  may  not  have  to  wait." 

They  sat  down  and  fell  to  eagerly.  When  Gustav 
noticed  that  Anna  buttered  her  father's  bread  for  him  he 
asked  her  to  do  the  same  for  him,  so  she  served  them  in 
turn.  The  plates  were  soon  emptied,  and  the  table  cleared. 
Then  Anna  brought  jugs  of  beer  and  pipes  for  the  men, 
and  the  foreman,  at  Gustav's  request,  read  a  chapter  from 
his  favorite  author. 

At  first  Gustav  listened  carefully,  then  the  words  acted 
as  a  stimulant  to  his  thoughts.  They  lulled  him.  He  sat 


214  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

as  though  enveloped  in  a  warm  cloak.  The  girl  let  her 
work  drop  and  then  looked  up  whenever  her  father  came 
to  an  especially  fine  passage ;  from  him  to  the  guest,  then 
smilingly  resumed  her  knitting.  Peace  crept,  like  a  warm 
wave,  through  the  room,  soothing,  caressing.  Gustav  had 
ceased  to  listen.  An  idyl  passed  before  his  eyes.  He 
dreamed  sweet  yet  painful  dreams.  The  sweetness  van- 
quished the  pain. 

"  I  have  much  to  thank  you  for,  Herr  Kolsch,"  he  said, 
as  he  took  his  departure.  "  You  are  an  education  in  your- 
self. You  are,  really !  In  the  factory  I  have  learned  from 
you ;  as  for  the  home,  I  should  have  taken  a  lesson  from 
you  earlier.  Your  house  feels  as  though  there  were  a  roof 
over  it.  The  wind  howls  through  my  rooms." 

"  Have  your  roof  mended,  Herr  Gustav.    You  can  do  it." 

"It  isn't  worth  while,  just  for  me.  We  mustn't  get 
sentimental,  though ;  it  would  spoil  a  very  pleasant  even- 
ing. Fraulein  Anna,  you  little  fairy,  you,  how  full  of 
love  your  heart  must  be ;  there  always  seems  enough  to  go 
round.  Don't  you  ever  get  tired  of  tidying  up  my  house 
every  morning?  " 

"Oh,  Hove  to  do  it!" 

"  Ah,  little  one,  when  you  marry,  some  man  will  be  happy 
as  a  king.  It  makes  one  quite  envious.  There,  there,  I'm 
off.  Don't  mind  me.  Good  night,  Fraulein  Anna.  Good 
night,  Herr  Kolsch." 

He  felt  quite  happy  as  he  stepped  from  the  comfortable 
house  into  the  dark,  silent  street.  That  night,  for  the 
first  time,  he  visited  the  children's  bedroom.  The  light  of 
the  candle  fell  upon  the  empty  beds,  the  neglected  toys. 

"  Come  back,"  he  murmured,  "  come  back,  we'll  cling 
together  for  good  or  ill.  If  only,  if  only, — but  she  is  ob- 
stinate and  I  am  dreaming." 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  215 

"Anna!" 
"  Yes,  Father." 

That  morning  the  foreman  had  received  a  letter.  The 
church  bells  rang  out  over  the  valley,  but  the  foreman 
heeded  them  not. 

"  Anna,  as  soon  as  you  have  finished  at  Herr  Wiskotten's 
go  straight  to  the  station  and  take  the  train  to  Diissel- 
dorf.  I  had  a  letter  from  Ernst." 

"  Oh,  dear,  has  anything  happened  to  Ewald,  father?  " 
"  You  might  think  first  of  your  brother." 
She  looked  down,  blushing.  "  Is  Ernst  well?  " 
"  Yes,  yes,  child,"  he  stroked  her  hair  tenderly,  "  there, 
read  it;  I  can't  understand  it  myself.     Ewald  Wiskotten 
no  longer  shares  his  meals.     He  has  had  some  trouble  at 
the  Academy  and  has  changed  his  lodgings.    It's  time  you 
looked  into  it." 

"  I'll  go  at  once.    I'll  be  back  by  evening,  father.  Don't 
say  anything  about  it  to  Herr  Gustav.     He  has  enough 
troubles  of  his  own!"     The  short  journey  to  Diisseldorf 
seemed  endless  to  the  girl.     Pictures — pale,  terrible  pic- 
tures— came  and  went  in  her  brain.     She  had  telegraphed 
to  Ernst,  who  met  her  at  the  station. 
"  What's  wrong,  Anna  girl?  " 
"  That's  just  what  I  want  you  to  tell  me." 
"  I — I  am  waked  out  of  a  comfortable   sleep  at   ten 
o'clock  in  the  morning  and  you  ask  me  to  prophesy.  That's 
asking  too  much." 

"  Have  you  found  Ewald  Wiskotten?  " 
"  Haven't  looked  for  him." 

"  But  supposing  some  misfortune " 

"  Nonsense — misfortune.  They  dismissed  him  from  the 
Academy,  said  he  had  no  talent.  That's  what  happens  to 
the  most  original  artists.  Now  he's  ashamed,  hides  his 
face  in  his  hands  and  cries,  «  What  shall  I  do?  '  " 


216  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

"  Ernst,  please  don't  be  silly ;  we  must  find  Ewald  at 
once.  Father  says  so." 

"  I  don't  believe,"  said  Ernst,  yawning,  "  that  if  I  were 
lost  you  would  rush  over  posthaste,  and  I'm  one  of  the 
family." 

"  Weeds  don't  die." 

"  Miss  Impertinence.  There,  child,  don't  look  so  sober. 
I'm  your  prisoner  at  your  command.  Forward !  " 

They  drove  to  Zinters',  where  they  met  the  daughter  of 
the  house. 

"  Can  you  tell  us  where  Herr  Ewald  Wiskotten  lives 
now,  please  ?  " 

"  I  have  nothing  to  do  with  an  out-at-the-elbow  fellow 
like  him." 

"  Where  were  his  things  sent?  " 

"  The  greengrocer  on  the  corner  carried  them  across  in 
his  pocket.  He  quite  forgot  to  take  the  bill,  though." 

"  Come,  Ernst,  we  will  go  to  the  greengrocer." 

Gretchen  Zinters  stood  there,  her  hands  in  her  apron 
pockets,  looking  at  them. 

*'  If  you're  his  sweetheart,  I'm  sure  I  wish  you  joy,"  she 
called  after  them.  The  door  shut.  Anna  Kolsch  went  on 
calmly  to  the  greengrocer's  shop. 

Ratinger  Street,  the  good  man  told  her,  and  he  de- 
scribed the  house :  "  His  room  is  about  the  size  of  a  rat 
hole." 

The  brother  and  sister  climbed  the  four  long  flights  of 
the  dirty  house,  full  to  overflowing  with  common  people. 
Wandering  peddlers,  occasional  workmen,  rag  and  bone 
men.  Nobody  occupied  more  than  one  room.  In  the  small- 
est, and  most  wretched  of  them  all,  lived  Ewald  Wiskotten. 
The  door  was  shut.  Anna  knocked,  there  was  a  sound 
within,  then  silence.  Ernst  Kolsch  banged  at  the  door. 
No  answer. 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  217 

"  Open  the  door,  man !  I  know  you're  at  home.  Anna  is 
here  with  me." 

"  Ewald,"  cried  the  girl,  softly. 

"  Donnerwetter,  I  want  peace  and  quiet !  I  don't  want 
any  of  you !  " 

The  girl  paled,  as  she  heard  this  furious  outburst, 
turned,  and  went  quietly  down  the  stairs. 

"  If  he  can  yell  like  that,  he's  not  done  for  yet,  Anna 
mine.  Cheer  up,  little  Samaritan,  you  came  too  soon,  that's 
all." 

"  Ernst,"  she  said,  and  her  voice  shook  with  fear,  "  do 
not  leave  it  till  it's  too  late.  Go  to  him  every  day.  Help 
him,  Ernst." 

"  The  fool  doesn't  deserve  it,"  he  growled.  "  The  worst 
of  it  is  the  fellow's  clever  enough,  only  he  can't  produce 
pictures.  Look  at  these  things  he  gave  me.  He  wanted  to 
tear  them  up,  but  I  stopped  him.  There,  amuse  yourself 
with  those  on  the  trip  home."  He  rolled  the  sheets  to- 
gether and  pushed  them  under  her  arm.  "  Now  smile, 
child." 

Still  her  wide-opened  eyes  were  full  of  anguish. 

"  All  right,  Anna,  I  promise  you.  I'll  take  charge  of 
him;  here's  my  hand  on  it." 

She  journeyed  back  to  Barmen,  the  roll  unopened  on 
her  lap. 


CHAPTER  II 

A  few  days  before  Ewald  Wiskotten  left  the  Zinters' 
Gretchen  mounted  the  stairs  to  his  room,  knocked  and 
entered.  She  carried  in  her  hand  a  letter  which  seemed  to 
interest  her  intensely.  Ewald  was  sitting  at  the  table, 
which  he  had  pulled  close  to  the  narrow  window,  working 
hard  at  some  drawings. 

"  Gretchen,  is  that  you  at  last?  " 

"  Here's  a  letter;  look  what's  in  it." 

«  Put  it  down  there." 

"  Aren't  you  curious  ?  The  writing's  like  copper-plate. 
It's  from  some  one  grand." 

"  Nothing  from  outside  matters  to  me.  It's  what's  in 
me  that  /  care  about." 

"  I'm  not  like  that ;  I  care  more  for  the  outside.  You 
know  where  you  are — there.  The  inside  that  you  think  so 
fine  often  dissolves  into  beautiful  blue  smoke." 

"You  think  I've  nothing  in  me,  Gretchen?" 

"  You're  always  so  dull.  It  would  never  do  for  both  of 
us  to  pull  long  faces.  Besides,  father  wouldn't  let  me. 
It's  bad  for  our  business." 

"  But  you  might  take  some  little  notice  of  me.  I  see 
nothing  of  you  for  weeks  at  a  time." 

She  pursed  her  lips.  "  You  never  take  me  out,  and  the 
theater's  open  only  during  the  Winter." 

"  Just  now  I  have  no  money  for  that,"  he  said,  and 
gazed  gloomily  at  his  drawing. 

"  You  never  do  have  any  money." 

"  No,  but  this — this — "  he  struck  his  canvas,  "  this  time 
218 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  219 

I've  got  it !  Go  to  your  friends — let  them  take  you  to  the 
theater.  One  day  you  will  be  sorry  that  you  did  not  believe 
in  me." 

She  swayed  to  and  fro  on  her  slender  hips,  then  slipped 
behind  his  chair. 

"What  is  it  you  are  doing,  silly?"  and  she  leaned 
against  his  arm  and  laid  her  cheek  on  his  ;  he  did  not  move. 
A  warm  glow  ran  through  him,  his  breath  came  slowly, 
heavily,  loudly,  and  his  cheeks  began  to  burn.  She  stroked 
his  hair  with  her  finger  tips. 

"  Tell  me,  Ewald." 

He  explained  hastily,  a  wedding  in  Niirnberg — the  nobles 
in  rich  robes,  the  citizens  dressed  like  princes. 

"  I  should  like  a  dress  like  that.  Couldn't  you  get  me 
one,  Ewald?" 

"  I'll  paint  it  for  you." 

"  Oh,  yes,  you'll  paint  me  too,  some  day." 

"  Gretchen,"  he  seized  her  violently  in  his  arms,  so  that 
the  table  shook,  "  kiss  me !  Do  you  hear?  You  must ! 
And  I'll  get  you  whatever  you  want,  but  you  must  give  me 
the  inspiration.  Look  at  that — nobody  else  can  do  work 
like  that!" 

Her  nearness  intoxicated  him,  he  became  boastful. 
"These  are  not  mere  daubs  of  color,  masking  a  lack  of  de- 
sign. That's  drawing,  riches,  luxury.  These  are  real 
people,  wearing  real  clothes,  not  smudges.  There's  imag- 
ination in  them,  they're  no  pale  corpses.  Gretchen — kiss 
me!" 

"  Will  you  open  the  letter  then?  " 

"  I  will." 

His  thirsty  young  lips  touched  hers.  For  a  time  neither 
heard  anything  but  the  beating  of  their  hearts. 

"  Let  me  go !  " 

"  Not  yet." 


220  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

"  You  hurt  me." 

"  And  you  me." 

"  You  are  mad." 

"Ah."  Now  she  was  free.  With  both  hands  she 
smoothed  back  her  hair. 

"  Open  the  letter,  now." 

"  Let  the  old  letter  alone.  Gretchen,  feel  how  my  heart 
beats." 

"Quickly  open  the  letter.  I  must  get  back  to 
work." 

Again  he  smiled  at  her,  his  eyes  glowing  with  the  light 
of  conquest.  Then  he  took  the  letter,  tore  the  envelope 
and  read.  He  read  as  though  he  did  not  understand ;  once 
he  turned  the  envelope  to  convince  himself  that  it  was  ad- 
dressed to  him.  Then  he  read  the  letter  again.  The  glow 
in  his  eyes  died  out.  The  lack  of  comprehension  gave  place 
to  dismay.  His  features  looked  drawn,  like  those  of  an 
old  man. 

"  No  pleasant  news  ?  " 

"  No." 

"  Let  me  see." 

He  crumpled  the  letter  in  his  hand  and  with  uncertain 
glance  looked  from  it  to  the  drawing  on  the  table.  His 
lips  were  compressed,  his  breath  came  gaspingly. 

"  Show  it  to  me,  do !  " 

His  hand  opened  and  the  paper  fell  to  the  ground.  He 
did  not  even  glance  at  it.  She  might  stoop,  smooth  and 
read  it,  if  she  would.  The  girl  picked  it  up  and  read  it 
slowly. 

"  Since,  during  the  first  two  terms,  you  have  shown 
that  you  are  not  up  to  the  standard  of  the  Academy, 
we  beg  you  to  consider  your  studies  here  at  an  end 
with  the  expiration  of  the  next  term." 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  221 

Gretchen  looked  at  Ewald  coldly — dismissed  for  inca- 
pacity. His  mouth  twitched.  Pride,  defiance,  and  the 
agony  of  youthful  suffering  were  fighting  for  the  mas- 
tery. She  saw  nothing  of  all  this.  She  saw  only  the  curt 
words  of  condemnation. 

"  It's  all  over  between  us." 

He  opened  his  eyes,  agony  conquered  pride.  "  No !  "  he 
shouted. 

"  So  you  say,  but  I  can't  wait.  I'm  tired  of  your  boast- 
ing. Where's  your  rich  family,  why  don't  they  help  you? 
No,  thank  you,  I'm  not  so  trustful  as  all  that." 

"  Gretchen,  stay.  All  this  is  nothing,  it  will  pass. 
Don't  leave  me  alone,  now — now,  when  I  need  you  so  badly. 
The  Academy — I  can  do  without  it.  But  you — I  need 
you.  Listen,  dearest." 

"  When  father  hears  about  this,  you'll  have  to  go.  He 
never  did  think  much  of  you,  Herr  Wiskotten." 

"  Why  do  you  call  me  Herr  Wiskotten?  " 

"Why  not?     We're  nothing  to  one  another  now." 

"  Gretchen,  don't  go  yet,  wait.  There  lies  my  new 
work,  and  just  now  when  you  kissed  me  I  knew,  I 
knew." 

"Let  me  go!" 

"  Gretchen,  kiss  me !  " 

"  Don't  you  dare  touch  me !  You've  always  lied  to  me. 
I'll  never  believe  you  again,  such  a  boaster  as  you  are. 
I'm  not  going  to  let  you  compromise  me,  so  you  needn't 
think  it.  Don't  ever  speak  to  me  again !  " 

He  looked  at  her  miserably.  Long  after  the  door  had 
slammed  to  behind  her  he  gazed  at  the  spot  where  she  had 
stood,  seeming  to  see  her  still  with  the  pitiless  glance  of 
girlish  cruelty  which  had  suddenly  stamped  itself  on  her 
young  face.  And  yet  he  cried  after  her,  as  though  cling- 
ing to  her  shadow. 


ggg  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

An  hour  later  he  left  the  house.  He  went  to  see  Ernst 
Kolsch,  whom  he  found  at  home.  "  Read  this  rag." 

Having  read  the  letter  of  the  principal  of  the  Academy, 
Ernst  passed  it  back. 

"  I've  seen  it  coming." 

"What  am  I  to  do?  Go  home,  eat  humble  pie?  I'd 
rather  break  stones." 

"  You  ought  to  be  in  the  School  of  Industrial  Arts. 
There  you  would  be  one  of  the  best." 

"Really?  At  what  pay?  Drawing  master?  Pattern 
maker?  Where  does  art  come  in?" 

"  Just  there.  That's  a  field  which  can  be  lifted  from  a 
craft  to  an  art.  It's  merely  a  question  of  genius  and  you 
have  that,  all  right." 

"  That's  the  only  suggestion  you  have  to  offer  ?  " 

"Isn't  it  enough?" 

"  You  are  a  jealous  fool.  You  simply  don't  under- 
stand. Your  finer  feelings  are  blunted  because  you  see 
nothing  but  the  brutal  color,  and  are  blind  to  the  details. 
What  have  you  and  I  in  common  ?  " 

Before  his  friend  could  stop  him,  he  was  off.  Next 
day  Ernst  received  a  letter  in  which  Ewald  informed  him 
that  he  would  no  longer  share  his  meals,  and  begged  him 
to  seek  no  further  communication  with  him.  As  artisan, 
he  could  no  longer  accept  alms  from  an  artist. 

For  two  days,  Ewald  wandered  along  the  banks  of  the 
Rhine,  neither  eating  nor  drinking,  jealously  guarding  his 
few  remaining  pfennigs  like  a  miser.  When  hunger  be- 
came unbearable  he  would  run  for  long  stretches  at  a  time, 
then  would  lie  down  sullenly,  brooding,  looking  moodily 
out  over  the  stream — out,  out  into  the  great  world  be- 
yond, till  a  mist  clouded  his  eyes  and  the  mist  dissolved 
in  tears  which  fell,  burning  his  cheeks.  He  lay  there  in 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  223 

the  white  sand  of  the  Rhine,  weeping  violently,  first  for 
Gretchen,  and  then  for  his  art. 

Over  the  Rhine  deep  shadows  fell,  playing  darkly  with 
the  waves  till  they  lost  themselves  in  their  embrace.  Night 
came,  confused  murmurs  arose,  Ewald  shuddered.  The 
voices  of  the  night,  with  their  ardent  message,  disturbed 
his  thoughts,  weakened  him,  filled  him  with  desires,  long- 
ings, which  made  his  weakness  the  more  bitter.  He  rose 
heavily,  seized  the  branches  of  a  willow,  and  leaned  down, 
listening  excitedly  to  the  murmur  of  the  stream.  Cau- 
tiously he  crept  along  the  bank,  closer,  closer,  till  he  felt 
the  chill  of  the  water.  With  a  scream,  he  leaped  to  his 
feet.  Night  and  the  river  were  reaching  out  long,  black 
arms  to  engulf  him,  winding  themselves  round  his  heart, 
his  brain 

"  Mother !  "  he  cried.  The  firm  ground  was  once  more 
under  his  feet.  As  he  fled  wildly  across  the  fields,  the 
horrors  of  night  crept  round  him  like  hissing  snakes.  At 
dawn,  he  found  himself  near  the  city.  The  morning  light 
shone  around  him,  penetrating  his  soul,  bringing  peace  to 
his  distraught  mind.  Over  there  lay  the  Academy.  He 
glanced  past  it,  hastily,  then  forced  himself  to  look  at  it 
calmly. 

"  I  must  get  my  things  from  the  classroom." 

It  was  too  early,  however.  He  went  back  to  the  Rhine 
and  sat  down  on  the  bank,  feet  hanging,  hands  between 
his  knees.  No  shadows  fell  now  over  the  fast-flowing 
stream.  "What  was  I  afraid  of?  I'm  still  here,  and  the 
night  has  gone." 

Tired  out,  breathing  heavily,  but  with  defiant  eyes,  he 
looked  at  the  receding  waves,  as  at  a  retreating  antag- 
onist. His  eyelids  grew  heavy — closed.  Once  or  twice 
he  started  in  his  sleep,  and  when  at  last  he  opened  his  eyes, 
he  was  astonished  to  find  himself  there.  He  was  about  to 


224  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

close  them  again  when  suddenly  he  remembered.  He  pulled 
his  watch  from  his  pocket — it  was  one  o'clock. 

"  I  must  get  my  things  from  the  classroom." 

The  spoken  word  revived  him.  He  rose  and  set  out  for 
the  town.  Now  he  had  reached  the  door.  The  stone  step 
did  not  resound  to  his  footsteps.  He  wondered  why,  as 
he  went  slowly,  step  by  step,  to  the  classroom.  Ah!  that 
was  it.  His  feet  dragged.  His  comrades  were  all  at  work. 
The  scent  of  turpentine  reached  him,  it  went  to  his  head. 
Things  which  he  could  not  quite  make  out  danced  before 
his  eyes.  The  ground  seemed  to  give  way  beneath  him, 
he  lost  his  footing.  Swaying,  he  clung  to  the  door  post. 
As  though  from  afar,  he  heard  indignant  voices,  saw 
cold,  penetrating  eyes  turned  mockingly  toward  him.  He 
pulled  himself  together  and  proudly,  stiff-kneed,  marched 
through  the  ranks  to  his  place. 

As  he  stooped  to  take  out  his  materials,  he  felt  the  floor 
surge  under  him.  He  lost  his  balance  and  fell  against  the 
window  ledge.  In  silence  he  rose,  looking  around  him, 
threateningly. 

"  Oh — ho !  He's  been  trying  to  drown  his  sorrows," 
cried  a  voice. 

"  Look  at  the  swashbuckler!  " 

"  Have  you  begun  already  to  see  snakes  ?  " 

One  of  them  handed  him  the  bottle  of  turpentine. 
"  Here,  have  a  drink." 

Ew<ald  raised  his  hand  as  though  to  strike.  The  vio- 
lence of  the  movement  was  too  much  for  him ;  he  fell  heav- 
ily to  the  floor.  Full  of  disgust,  the  professor  hurried  in 
from  the  next  room. 

"  Get  up,  Wiskotten !  Leave  the  room  at  once !  Have 
you  no  sense  of  shame,  that  you're  drunk  so  early  in  the 
morning?  " 

He  lay  there,  eyes  fast  closed. 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  225 

"  Call  the  janitor!  No  " — the  professor  corrected  him- 
self— "  call  the  doctor !  There's  one  on  the  corner." 

A  few  sympathizers  lifted  the  fallen  boy,  and  set  him 
on  a  chair.  He  lay  back,  motionless.  The  doctor  came 
and  examined  him. 

"  Drunk?  Not  a  bit  of  it.  On  the  contrary,  he  is  un- 
fortunately too  sober.  The  poor  young  man  is  starving." 

The  students  looked  at  one  another  shamefacedly.  One 
drew  from  his  pocket  a  slice  of  buttered  bread.  The  pro- 
fessor's face  grew  red. 

"  Tell  the  concierge  to  bring  some  warm  milk,  please." 

In  a  few  minutes  it  was  brought.  The  doctor  bent 
over  his  patient,  holding  the  glass  to  his  lips.  Ewald 
emptied  it  in  long,  eager  gulps. 

"  Taste  good,  youngster?  " 

He  nodded,  then  caught  sight  of  the  others.  Without 
saying  a  word,  he  jumped  up  and  started  toward  the 
door. 

"Gently,  gently.  Where  are  you  going  so  suddenly? 
You  are  in  the  doctor's  hands  now."  The  doctor  seized 
him  by  the  sleeve,  and  as  he  still  protested  said,  "Any- 
how, I  shall  see  you  home." 

Old  Zinters  raised  his  eyebrows,  as  he  saw  his  lodger 
enter  accompanied  by  a  doctor. 

"  No,  this  is  the  last  straw.  That  young  gentleman  is 
a  trifle  too  clever  for  me.  First,  he  doesn't  pay  his  rent, 
then  he  gets  dismissed  from  the  Academy,  and  now  he 
comes  here  ill.  Such  luxuries  are  not  for  me." 

"  Your  lodger  is  not  ill.  All  he  needs  is  some  good, 
strong  soup.  That's  a  fine  smell  coming  from  your 
kitchen.  I'll  wait  here  till  you  send  up  the  soup." 

The  order  sounded  so  natural  that  Zinters  passed  it  on 
to  the  maid.  "  If  we  don't,  it'll  get  into  the  papers.  Go 
on,  take  it  up." 


226  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

Ewald  lay  stretched  comfortably  upon  his  bed.  He  felt 
that  after  all  life  was  good.  His  eyes  closed,  he  fell  into 
a  dreamless  sleep.  When  he  awoke,  it  was  evening.  He 
sat  up  and  tried  to  think.  A  model  had  told  him  that  he 
paid  only  eight  marks  a  month  for  a  room  in  Ratinger- 
strasse.  That  would  be  the  place  for  him.  He  dressed 
Soft  footsteps  approached  his  door.  Gretchen,  he 
thought,  and  listened.  Soon  afterward,  heavy  steps  as- 
cended the  stairs.  So  they  had  told  old  Zinters  that  he 
was  awake.  Without  knocking,  the  innkeeper  entered. 

"  And  pray  what  are  we  to  do  with  you  ?  You  don't 
seem  to  want  to  pay  rent,  and  I've  no  intention  of  adopt- 
ing you." 

"  I'm  leaving  here,  Herr  Zinters." 

The  innkeeper  glanced  round  the  room. 

"  You've  treated  my  best  room  pretty  badly,  you  must 
admit.  I  shall  have  to  have  the  whitewashers  in.  It 
can't  be  done  under  twenty  marks.  Sureties?  Where 
would  you  get  them?  " 

Ewald  felt  naked  before  the  piercing  eyes  of  the  man. 
He  shook  with  shame  and  fury.  He  was  powerless  before 
this  humiliation. 

"  I  will  write  you  an  I  O  U,  Herr  Zinters.  I  am 
staying  in  Diisseldorf.  I  am  going  to  study  at  the  In- 
dustrial Art  School." 

"You'll  write  me  an  I  O  U,  will  you?  Very  kind  of 
you,  I'm  sure.  You  will  allow  me  to  arrange  this  little 
matter,  please.  I  had  an  inkling  of  it.  Here,  sign  this 
paper.  That's  the  amount  you  owe  me  for  rent,  repairs, 
expenses,  and  interest,  and  you'll  pay  me  six  per  cent, 
interest  a  month." 

Ewald  looked  at  the  huge  total.  How  could  it  ever 
have  come  to  that?  But  he  could  not  question,  haggle 
now.  He  signed. 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  227 

"  I'll  keep  this  paper  for  a  year,  just  to  spare  your 
parents." 

"Can  I  go  now?" 

"  You  could  not  please  me  better." 

While  Zinters  watched  him,  Ewald  hastily  packed  his 
few  belongings  into  a  big  bundle,  took  his  hat  and  went 
swiftly  downstairs.  In  Ratingerstrasse  he  arranged  with 
the  widow  of  a  laborer  to  take  the  smaller  of  two  rooms 
she  had  rented.  Furniture  there  was  none,  except  for  a 
mattress  and  two  boxes,  which  served  as  chair  and  table. 
A  friendly  greengrocer  who  lived  near  the  Zinters  car- 
ried his  bundle  over  for  him  on  his  barrow. 

Ewald  glanced  once  more  round  his  old  quarters. 
"  May  I  not  say  good-by  to  Fraulein  Gretchen?  " 

"  Oh,  Gretchen's  gone  to  the  theater  with  Franz  Stib- 
ben  from  Neuss.  Shall  I  give  her  any  message?  " 

"  No  matter,  thank  you.    Good-by." 

"  Good-by.     Don't  forget  us." 

In  the  garret  the  air  was  stifling.  He  opened  the 
window  and  let  in  the  cool  evening  breeze  which  blew 
up  from  the  Rhine.  It  refreshed  him.  Forcing  his  head 
out  of  the  narrow  aperture,  he  looked  over  to  the 
roofs  of  the  Academy,  and  thence  across  a  stretch  of 
the  river.  Then  he  turned  back  into  the  room,  unpacked 
his  drawing  materials,  ate  hungrily  his  frugal  supper 
of  bread  and  sausage,  and  sank,  worn  out,  upon  his 
mattress. 

The  next  day  he  calmly  thought  matters  over.  "  I 
must  go  through  with  it,"  he  said  to  himself.  "  Leave  no 
stone  unturned.  Why  shouldn't  I  see  what  I  can  do  at  the 
School  of  Industrial  Arts?  The  professors  there  are  just 
as  good.  Neudorfer  is  an  artist  of  renown.  I  might  be 
able  to  earn  a  living  at  the  beginning,  then  later  on  I  can 
go  on  to  some  other  academy  or  take  private  lessons  from 


228  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

some  great  master.  I  must  not  and  will  not  return  home 
a  failure.  I  should  never  be  allowed  to  forget  it." 

He  thought  of  his  brother  Paul's  letter  which  he  had 
left  unanswered,  of  Paul's  vain  attempt  to  speak  with  him. 
He  had  as  yet  nothing  to  say  to  him,  now  less  than  ever. 
When  he  had  overcome  all  obstacles  and  could  lift  his 
head,  proudly,  freely,  as  he  had  done  at  home,  then — 
perhaps. 

When  on  Sunday  he  heard  the  voices  of  Ernst  and  Anna 
Kolsch  before  his  door,  he  turned  white  with  rage.  Had 
they  spied  him  out  already?  Was  he  to  appear  before 
them  naked  and  miserable,  so  that  all  Barmen  might  know? 
This  was  his  house,  poor  as  it  was.  He  would  be  left 
alone. 

On  Monday  morning,  he  called  at  the  private  studio  of 
Professor  Neudorfer.  He  found  a  big,  strong  man  with 
quiet  ways,  who  examined  him,  genially,  through  his 
glasses. 

"  What  brings  you  to  me  ?  " 

"  I  should  like  to  show  you  my  drawings." 

"  Let  me  see.    Have  you  studied  anywhere  yet?  " 

Ewald  cleared  his  throat.  He  had  to  admit  "  I  was 
for  two  terms  at  the  Academy  of  Art." 

"  Here  in  Dusseldorf  ?  " 

"  Yes." 

"  And  you  want  to  change?  " 

"  I  am  forced  to  do  so " 

"  Oh,  so  they  requested  you  to  resign  ?  " 

"  Yes." 

The  professor  stroked  his  brown  hair,  his  eyes  were 
keen  behind  his  glasses.  "  Well,  well,  it'll  do  no  harm  to 
look  at  them.  Show  me  what  you  have  brought." 

Ewald  handed  him  his  portfolio. 

"  You  are  trembling — are  you  ill  ?  " 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  229 

"  No,  no,  I'm  quite  well,  only — a  master " 

"  There,  sit  down." 

Ewald  sat  down  on  a  stool  near  the  door  twisting  his 
hat  in  his  hand.  It  was  spotted  and  torn;  he  noticed  it 
for  the  first  time.  At  this  moment  he  saw  each  spot  dis- 
tinctly. He  laid  his  hat  on  a  chair  and  sat  still  with 
folded  hands.  It  could  not  be  worse  than  it  had  been. 
Supposing  the  man  who  held  his  drawings  in  his  hand  were 
to  say  "  No !  "  He  reached  for  his  spotted  hat, — and — 
and 

"  Come  over  here,  Herr — ,  what  was  the  name  ?  " 

"  Wiskotten." 

The  professor  looked  at  him  narrowly. 

"  Wiskotten?    Not  one  of  the  Barmen  Wiskottens?  " 

"  Yes,  Herr  Neudorfer." 

"  How  is  it,  then,  excuse  me — but  how  is  it  that  you  are 
in  this  condition  ?  " 

Ewald  flushed  darkly.  His  glance  fell  from  his  shabby 
suit  to  his  frayed  trousers  and  shapeless  boots. 

"  You  must  not — judge — my — family — from — me — — ," 
he  murmured. 

The  professor  laughed. 

"  I  should  not  have  dreamed  of  so  doing.  The  Wiskot- 
tens would  be  very  indignant.  But  say — tell  me,  have  you 
done  anything  especially  foolish  ?  " 

"  No,  sir.  It's  only  that  I  want  to  be  an  artist.  That  is 
not  according  to  the  tradition  of  our  family." 

"  I  am  glad  to  hear  that  that  is  all.  Otherwise  I  could 
have  nothing  to  do  with  you.  They  are  not  helping  you? 
Who  then  paid  your  fees  at  the  Academy?  " 

"  The  father  of  a  friend,  but  now  I  cannot  accept 
that." 

"  What  you  want,  then,  is  to  be  able  to  earn  your  own 
living?" 


230  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"Your  sketches  show  decided  promise,  Herr  Wiskot- 
ten." 

The  blood  sang  in  Ewald's  ears.  The  figure  of  the  pro- 
fessor swam  before  his  eyes.  Stammered  words  burst  from 
his  lips  in  painful  gasps,  there  was  a  weight  upon  his 
chest. 

"  You  say — and  yet  the  Academy — dismissed  me — and 
now — it  can't  be  true —  Heavens !  " 

"  Be  calm,  young  man.  You  can  do  nothing  in  a  state 
like  that.  Here,  drink  this  cognac.  You're  thoroughly 
upset,  it  seems  to  me.  You  must  take  better  care  of  your- 
self." 

"  I  will,  really,  sir.  They  didn't  give  me  a  chance.  But 
now " 

"  Not  too  much  emotion;  emotion  is  only  justified  by 
hard  work,  and  at  present  we  have  the  work  before  us.  I 
question  whether  you  will  ever  paint  pictures,  but  you  are 
already  a  stylist  in  your  own  way.  You  can  do  what  you 
like  with  lines.  These  wreaths  of  vine  and  laurel,  these 
ornaments  growing  up  out  of  the  earth  like  hardy  flowers, 
like  lace  on  a  velvet  gown,  that's  original  and  beautiful." 

The  mere  sound  of  the  master's  voice  sent  delicious 
thrills  through  him ;  he  could  have  listened  forever,  for  the 
comfort  it  brought  him. 

"  It's  simply  a  question  of  education.  Concentrate  your 
powers  on  this  one  thing.  Don't  be  led  astray  bj  an 
artist's  false  pride.  Show  your  energy,  prove  that  you  are 
a  man.  The  artist  will  speak  for  himself." 

"  The  artist?  "  repeated  Ewald. 

"  Yes,  indeed,  the  artist,  or  perhaps  you  consider  me  a 
mere  artisan?  " 

"Oh,  sir!" 

"  All  right,  then.     I  too  was  dismissed  from  the  Acad- 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  231 

emy  in  my  youth.  You  see  it  hasn't  hurt  me.  But  one 
must  have  a  definite  object,  no  sentimentality.  An  artist 
cannot  be  stifled.  An  artist  does  not  necessarily  mean  a 
dauber  of  canvas.  The  production  of  anything  which 
brings  pleasure,  adds  beauty,  proclaims  him.  Are  you 
going  to  be  a  man?  A  man  and  an  artist  in  one?  " 

"  Indeed,  I'm  going  to  try,  sir." 

"  You  have  the  head  of  a  man  of  energy.  Be  true  to 
your  type.  You  can  begin  your  lessons  tomorrow,  punc- 
tually at  eight  o'clock." 

"  As  your " 

"  As  my  private  pupil.  You  interest  me,  therefore  I 
will  not  take  you  with  the  common  herd.  But  see  to  it 
that  I  do  not  lose  my  interest." 

"  But,  sir,  I  cannot  pay " 

"  If  that's  all  that  worries  you,  you  soon  will  be  able 
to.  Otherwise  " — he  smiled  again  and  stroked  his  beard, 
"  well,  if  I'm  so  poor  a  master  as  all  that,  I  must  pocket 
the  loss." 

"  Oh,  I'll  work,  how  I'll  work !  "  cried  Ewald,  and  looked 
up  at  the  master  with  great,  shining  eyes.  The  professor 
nodded  to  him  kindly. 

"  One  thing  more.  Would  it  not  be  possible  for  you 
to  dress  somewhat  more  neatly?  " 

The  young  man  looked  down  in  silence. 

"  You  won't  ask  your  family  for  help  ?  " 

"  No,  not  yet." 

"  Obstinate  lad,"  thought  the  professor,  but  this  very 
obstinacy  pleased  him. 

"  How  far  did  you  go  at  school  ?  " 

"  I  took  my  degree." 

"  At  the  Gymnasium?  " 

"  Yes." 

"  Then  you've  more  education  than  I  have.     My  sons 


232  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

don't  seem  to  want  to  outdo  their  father.  The  youngsters 
have  stuck  for  two  years  in  the  Upper  Third.  This  ex- 
treme filial  feeling  makes  me  anxious.  Do  you  think  you 
could  help  them  a  little  with  their  studies  ?  In  the  evening, 
when  the  light's  out.  Shall  we  say  a  dollar  for  the  two?  " 

"  Sir,  you— I " 

"Is  it  to  be  yes?" 

"  Yes." 

"  Very  well,  then,  I  shall  see  you  tomorrow.  I  haven't 
another  minute  to  spare.  Good-by,  Herr  Wiskotten." 

Outside  Ewald  blinked  in  the  sunshine.  Like  a  child 
measuring  his  strength  he  forced  himself  to  look  full  at 
the  golden  orb.  His  limbs  were  light,  his  step  elastic. 
When  he  reached  home,  he  poked  his  head  out  of  the  win- 
dow and  looked  hard  at  the  Academy.  That  Lost  Para- 
dise no  longer  seemed  to  him  the  only  one  in  which  grew 
the  tree  of  knowledge.  The  youth  in  him  proclaimed  its 
right  to  hope,  to  overcome.  While  the  daylight  lasted  he 
worked.  In  a  little  room  next  to  his  master's  stood  his 
table,  and  his  imagination  bent  upon  one  goal  lifted  its 
wings  and  soared  high.  The  master's  word  acted  as  a 
curb  when  he  was  rising  out  of  sight,  turned  his  glance 
back  to  the  flowers  by  the  wayside  when  his  gaze  was  fixed 
upon  the  stars. 

The  first  evening  Herr  Neudorfer  presented  him  to  his 
family.  After  a  short  but  friendly  greeting  from  the 
mistress  of  the  house,  he  was  left  alone  with  the  boys. 
They  were  wide-awake  youngsters  with  a  dislike  for  con- 
centration and  an  intense  love  of  liberty.  They  tried  at 
first  to  make  their  teacher  their  playmate.  Ewald,  how- 
ever, was  firm,  and  sought  to  do  for  them  something  of 
what  their  father  had  done  for  him.  He  taught  the  boys 
the  secret  of  family  pride — pride  which  will  not  yield  till 
it  has  proved  itself  worthy  of  the  name.  The  boys  listened 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  233 

with  glowing  eyes  to  his  tales  of  chivalry,  and  when  the 
teacher  pointed  to  the  book  again,  they  stuck  their  fingers 
in  their  ears  and  studied  diligently. 

"  Why  do  you  never  go  to  see  your  family  ?  "  they 
asked  him. 

"  I  must  win  my  spurs  first,"  he  answered ;  "  that's  what 
I'm  waiting  for.  One  day  I'll  go  back  with  spurs  and 
flag.  For  the  man  who  carries  the  flag  is  a  leader,  you 
know.  You  must  carry  one  too." 

The  form  of  their  shabby  young  teacher  was  endowed 
for  them  with  a  romantic  haze.  Under  the  worn-out  coat 
they  espied  a  hidden  coat  of  mail,  and  they  sought  to  earn 
his  approvals  by  great  display  of  pride.  Ewald  found 
that  in  teaching  them  he  himself  learned  much. 

Four  weeks  went  by;  he  was  himself  again.  His 
means  sufficed  for  his  small  needs,  and  Herr  Neudorfer 
had  promised  him  enough  work  during  the  summer  to  pay 
expenses. 

He  held  his  head  high;  he  began  to  make  plans  as  he 
looked  out  of  his  attic  window  at  the  Lost  Paradise  which 
seemed  to  mock  him.  He  would  set  to  work  on  a  picture. 
Would  he  dare?  Just  to  show  them  that  they  had  made  .a 
mistake. 

When  he  came  next  day  to  the  studio  the  maid  told  him 
that  Herr  Neudorfer  had  been  called  away  suddenly  to  his 
mother  in  Kassel,  who  had  been  taken  ill.  He  hastened  to 
the  private  house  and  found  only  Frau  Neuberg.  Ab- 
sently he  listened  while  she  explained  that  Herr  Neu- 
dorfer's  mother  had  had  a  stroke  and  had  asked  for  her 
son.  To  please  her  he  had  taken  his  sons  with  him  till 
the  end  of  the  Easter  holidays.  He  begged  Herr  Wis- 
kotten  to  take  three  weeks'  holiday. 

In  his  anxiety  for  his  mother,  the  teacher  had  quite 
forgotten  the  circumstances  of  his  pupil. 


234  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

"Three  weeks,"  said  Ewald  to  himself;  "one  week  I 
could  manage,  but  three " 

Aimless,  hopeless,  he  walked  by  the  banks  of  the  Rhine. 
Fortune  had  deserted  him  at  the  moment  when  his  hopes 
were  highest.  Where  could  he  get  the  money  to  last  him 
for  three  weeks?  For  three  short  weeks,  weeks,  neverthe- 
less, which  might  cost  him  dear.  From  Ernst  Kolsch  he 
would  not  beg.  After  working  so  hard  he  had  not  deserved 
this.  He  would  not  let  his  will  be  conquered  by  the  sick- 
ness of  an  old  woman,  a  stranger  to  him,  by  a  break  of 
three  weeks  in  his  plans.  He  had  borne  a  year  of  suffer- 
ing, now  three  weeks  of  inactivity  just  as  he  was  begin- 
ning to  find  himself  should  not  beat  him.  The  moment 
had  come  to  show  his  mettle.  All  day  he  thought  over 
ways  and  means  to  keep  his  head  above  water  during  these 
wretched  three  weeks.  Any  honest  work,  be  it  what  it 
would. 

Opposite  him,  on  the  Golzheimer  quay,  he  saw  a  booth 
with  a  canteen.  Workmen  with  pick  and  shovel  came  out  in 
groups,  setting  out  for  their  work  in  the  mountains.  Why 
not  use  him  arms  ?  Here  was  his  chance.  Without  further 
thought  he  went  up  to  the  overseer  and  engaged  as  a  day 
laborer. 

He  stood  in  the  canteen  among  his  new  comrades, 
around  him  faces  grave  and  gay,  faces  of  men  who  knew 
nothing  of  life  but  this  brutalizing  manual  labor,  who 
scraped  a  scanty  living  from  their  stepmother  earth. 

Next  morning  Ewald  set  off  with  the  group ;  shovel  on 
shoulder,  hat  pulled  down  over  his  eyes,  he  walked  heavily 
in  line.  To  him  the  earth  upon  which  he  was  to  work  did 
not  seem  hostile ;  it  appeared  to  him  in  the  guise  of  a  lov- 
ing mother. 

"  Hurry  up  there,  Wiskotten,"  cried  the  overseer.  And 
Wiskotten  hastened  his  steps. 


CHAPTER  III 

IT  was  a  green  Easter  in  the  Wupper  country.  The 
late  snow,  which  generally  falls  upon  the  heights  at  the 
approach  of  Spring,  had  not  appeared  this  year.  Over 
the  forest  lay  a  scarce  perceptible  tinge  of  green ;  those 
who  did  not  see  it  felt  it  in  the  air.  Each  told  the  other 
the  good  news.  It's  Spring  in  the  mountains.  Everyone, 
astonished  and  delighted,  passed  on  the  word. 

Through  the  Hochwald,  along  the  bank  of  the  gleam- 
ing river,  Gustav  Wiskotten  wandered.  He  met  but  few 
people  in  the  valley,  the  church  bells  ceased  to  ring,  the 
churches  were  filled  with  pious  worshipers.  Gustav  could 
not  sit  among  them.  He  had  tried  it  on  Palm  Sunday, 
listening  with  his  ears,  not  with  his  heart.  He  had  even 
stayed  through  the  sermon.  The  clergyman  spoke  well 
(in  the  Wupper  country  they  chose  preachers  of  talent), 
but  he  spoke  for  the  majority,  of  the  hopes  and  fears  of 
the  general  community,  not  for  the  individual.  Even  had 
he  done  so,  he  could  only  have  succeeded  in  throwing  light 
upon  his  soul  without  banishing  its  shadows.  He  could  do 
that  for  himself. 

On  the  brown,  gleaming  bushes  shone  the  pussy  willows. 
He  cut  a  bunch  of  them  and  felt  the  young  wood,  in  which 
the  sap  was  beginning  to  rise.  He  sat  down  on  a  mossy 
bank,  the  wood  in  front  of  him,  behind  him  the  vast  table- 
land. With  the  point  of  his  knife  he  whittled  the  brown 
branches.  Soon  the  bark,  freed  from  the  wood,  slipped 
down  like  a  snake's  skin.  Every  year  he  had  cut  the  first 
whistles  for  the  children.  Arms  resting  on  his  knees,  they 


236  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

had  sat  there  in  front  of  him,  following  with  astonished 
eyes  the  various  processes,  till  the  wonder  was  complete 
and  the  long-drawn  out,  sonorous  tone  made  them  thrill 
with  delight.  To  them  their  father  was  the  most  wonder- 
ful man  in  the  world,  for  he  could  do  anything  he  liked. 
There  was  much,  alas,  he  had  not  been  able  to  do.  The 
mother  did  not  agree  with  her  children.  For  her,  the 
miracles  of  Spring  had  no  charm. 

He  bent  his  head,  put  the  whistles  to  his  lips,  and  sat 
there  blowing  soft  notes  through  the  woods.  It  aroused 
in  him  memories  of  other  days.  Spring  was  here,  the  sap 
rising  in  the  wood.  He  flung  the  whistle  from  him,  fiercely, 
as  though  it  had  burned  his  fingers. 

"Now,  now,  pull  yourself  together.  But  this  air — 
this  air — I  can  hardly  stand  it." 

He  leaped  up,  looked  around  cautiously,  to  see  whether 
he  was  observed,  then  walked  hastily  away  from  the  path 
into  the  depths  of  the  wood.  Here  no  one  saw,  here  no 
one  could  read  his  thoughts.  His  arm  lay  around  the 
waist  of  a  woman,  who  trembled  at  his  touch,  a  head  lay 
on  his  shoulder,  and  the  sunbeams  were  caught  in  a  wealth 
of  brown  hair,  forming  red-gold  flames.  When  he  tried 
to  kiss  these  away,  mischievous  eyes  smiled  at  him,  red 
lips  drew  back  teasingly,  then  yielded  themselves  to  his. 
His  companion  broke  loose,  there  was  a  chase  through  the 
woods,  and  she  was  caught.  A  laughing  girl  wound  her 
arms  round  his  neck,  and  his  heart  beat  even  more  violently 
than  during  the  chase. 

"  Emily,  no  not  Emily ;  her  body,  indeed,  but  not  her 
soul!  Had  they  grown  so  old?  When  all  nature  was  in- 
toxicated with  the  joy  of  life,  was  he  only  to  renounce 
it?  "  Compellingly,  yearningly,  he  cried  out  through  the 
forest,  "  Emily !  "  Somewhere  an  echo  answered.  With 
fast  beating  heart,  he  left  the  wood.  When  he  reached 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  237 

the  valley  and  his  fellow  men,  he  had  the  decided  gait  and 
calm,  bold  glance  which  befitted  the  factory  owner.  He 
knew  the  master  must  keep  the  upper  hand.  Now,  more 
than  ever. 

At  his  home,  he  met  Anna  Kolsch.  She  had  decorated 
the  living  room  with  branches  of  willow.  He  looked  at 
her. 

"  How  sweet  you  look  this  morning,  Anna." 

She  showed  him  her  hands.  "  Do  you  call  those  sweet? 
I've  been  dyeing  Easter  eggs." 

"  I  did  not  mean  your  hands.  I  meant  you,  you  your- 
self, the  whole  of  you." 

She  put  her  hands  behind  her  back  and  laughed  at  him 
gayly.  Then  the  laugh  died  wondering  on  her  lips  and  a 
strange  fear  woke  in  her  eyes.  Gustav  had  his  arms 
around  her.  Her  body  stiffened  in  his  arms,  now  he  saw 
in  her  eyes  the  dull  horror.  The  mad  gleam  in  his  eyes 
faded,  he  raised  his  hand  and  stroked  her  pale  cheek. 

"  I'm  not  going  to  eat  you,  child,  I'm  really  not  a  were- 
wolf. It's  only  that  you  are  so  good  to  look  at.  Little 
silly,  do  you  grudge  me  that  ?  " 

The  hardness  died  out  of  her  eyes,  they  grew  soft  and 
her  lips  trembled. 

"  Of  course  not,  Herr  Wiskotten." 

"  There's  no  one  else  who  cares  to  give  me  pleasure. 
It's  an  awful  feeling." 

Like  a  child,  she  leaned  her  head  against  his  breast. 
She  looked  up  at  him  pleadingly. 

"  Herr  Wiskotten " 

"  Well,  little  one." 

"  Ask  your  wife  to  come  back." 

"  Not  that,  child — you  don't  understand." 

"  Indeed  I  do,  Herr  Wiskotten." 

In  surprise  he  looked  at  the  young,  blushing  face.   Not 


238  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

knowing  what  to  answer,  he  stroked  mechanically  the  long, 
fair  braid,  which  was  round  her  head  like  a  crown. 

"  I  understand,"  the  girl  had  said.  This  girl  who  was 
not  yet  twenty  and  his  old  mother  who  was  more  than 
sixty  both  had  understood.  Were  all  women,  then,  young 
and  old,  capable  of  understanding  love?  Was  there  in 
them  a  subtle  something  which  let  them  know  the  false 
from  the  true?  The  sixty  years  of  his  mother,  looking 
backward,  spoke  for  battle.  The  twenty  years  of  the 
girl,  looking  forward,  begged  for  peace.  But  the  goal  in 
both  cases  was  the  same. 

"Tell  me,  Anna,  are  you  in  love?" 

"  We  are  not  talking  about  me,  Herr  Gustav." 

"  It  almost  seems  to  me " 

"  Ask  your  wife  to  come  back.    Do,  please !  " 

"And  supposing  I  were  to  do  it,  then  what?" 

"  Then  call  back  Ewald,  too."  She  laughed  and  slipped 
from  his  arms.  "  Just  for  your  own  sake,  that  you  may 
have  happiness  around  you." 

"  Ah,  little  Anna,  there  you  make  a  mistake.  Ewald  is 
more  obstinate  than  ever;  he  refuses  absolutely  to  have 
anything  to  do  with  us.  My  wife  writes  that  the  children 
are  well,  but  not  a  word  of  herself." 

"  Because  she  wants  you  to  go  and  see." 

"Anna,  what  a  child  you  are.  I  had  forgotten  it  for 
the  minute,  forgive  me." 

"  Only  women  can  understand  how  women  feel,  men  can- 
not." 

"  There,  run  off  home  now.  Remember  me  to  your 
father.  Hurry  up  now,  that's  what  I  get  for  talking  to 
children.  Off  with  you." 

"  Are  you  coming  round  this  evening  ?  Father  is  read- 
ing Morike.  No,  Reuter  today,  I  think." 

"  Of  course  I'm  coming." 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  239 

"  Good-by.     It's  Easter  Day,  you  know." 

"  Till  this  evening,  goosie." 

All  this  had  done  him  good.  He  stretched  his  arms  and 
walked  across  the  room,  filled  now  with  girlish  laughter. 
Did  girls  laugh  like  that,  or  only  girls  who  felt  as  women 
do,  or  women  who  felt  like  girls?  It  was  almost  the  same 
thing,  and  yet  not  quite.  He  listened  as  though  he  heard 
music.  The  prelude,  the  sketching  of  the  melody,  then  the 
song  itself. 

It  was  dinner  time  at  the  elder  Wiskottens.  William 
and  Mabel  came  in. 

"  Gracious,  Gustav,  have  you  won  a  prize  in  the  lot- 
tery? "  We  could  use  it !" 

"  Any  good  news?  "  asked  Mabel. 

"  Neither  one  nor  the  other." 

"  What  is  it,  then?  It's  hardly  the  moment  for  rejoic- 
ing." 

"  Nothing,  absolutely  nothing.  Only  someone  laughed 
in  my  house  today,  or  perhaps  the  swallows  twittered. 
They  are  already  in  the  valley.  Perhaps  I  brought  it 
home  in  my  garments." 

"I  do  believe  Gustav  is  going  mad,"  declared  Fritz. 

But  Paul  came  and  clapped  him  on  the  shoulder.  "  So 
you  heard  them  too.  It's  true,  the  swallows  are  here." 

"  You  poet,  you !  "  said  his  brother,  and  laughed. 

At  table,  the  talk  was  lively.  The  conversation  turned 
on  the  commercial  situation,  which  grew  more  critical 
from  day  to  day,  although  each  tried  to  avoid  it. 

"  A  year  ago  today  the  strike  was  on,"  said  Frau  Wis- 
kotten.  "  Violence  brings  no  blessing." 

"Was  it  as  bad  as  the  Revolution,  father?"  asked 
Mabel. 

She  adored  the  quiet  humor  of  the  old  man,  and  he 
adored  the  bright  joyousness  of  his  daughter-in-law.  She 


240  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

looked  at  him,  and  her  glance  said :  "  Tell  us  about  it,  or 
the  others  will  break  in  with  their  tiresome  business." 

"No,  child,"  said  the  old  man,  "but  the  Revolution 
was  not  so  very  bad,  after  all.  I  was  working  then  as  ap- 
prentice to  one  of  the  defenders  of  the  barricades  at  Elber- 
feld.  Each  day  he  said  to  his  mother,  '  Mother,  I  must  go 
on  my  rounds ! '  Or,  '  Mother,  I'm  on  guard  today.'  Or, 
*  I  must  be  off  to  target  practice  today,  Mother.'  But 
when  suddenly  the  alarm  was  given,  he  ran  up  and  down  the 
house  looking  for  his  gun.  "  Here,  Wiskotten,  run  across 
to  the  Hasenklever  Inn  and  see  if  I  left  my  gun  there 
yesterday.  If  it's  not  there — where  in  the  devil  was  I 
the  day  before?  Oh,  yes,  go  to  Kriiger's  and  see  if  it  is 
there.'  And  sure  enough,  there  it  was  at  Kriiger's  in 
the  umbrella  stand,  although  the  master  had  been  on  his 
rounds  that  very  day,  and  at  target  practice  the  day 
before." 

"  When  it's  a  case  of  drinking,  men  always  deceive  their 
wives,"  remarked  Frau  Wiskotten. 

"Ah,  Mother,"  said  old  Herr  Wiskotten,  and  looked 
kindly  at  his  wife,  "  there  >are  always  the  exceptional  ones 
who  refuse  to  be  deceived." 

"  They  are  none  the  worse  for  that,  Father." 

"  I  agree  with  you." 

The  story  amused  Mabel  immensely.  She  went  on,  "  I 
should  love  to  be  in  a  revolution." 

There  was  silence  at  the  table;  everyone  thought  of 
the  factory. 

"  How  long  can  we  hold  out?  "  asked  Frau  Wiskotten. 
Her  voice  was  quite  calm. 

"We  have  a  special  account  for  the  silk.  If  Schar- 
wachter  holds  out  for  another  month,  we  shall  use  nothing 
but  cotton,  as  before." 

Fritz  struck  his  hand  upon  the  table.    His  invention  had 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  241 

been  of  absolutely  no  avail,  but  he  said  nothing.  He 
was  sorry  for  Gustav. 

"Three  months,"  said  Frau  Wiskotten.  "This  is 
Easter  Day.  In  three  days  our  Lord  died  and  rose  again. 
Surely,  he  can  work  a  miracle  of  resurrection  for  us  in 
three  months,  if  He  so  wills." 

"  Yes,  indeed." 

Then  August  said  a  short  grace. 

"  Shall  we  go  out  somewhere  ?  "  asked  Mabel.  "  Let's 
take  a  drive." 

"  You  must  not  be  extravagant,  Mabel.  Every  penny 
counts  now." 

"  It  isn't  for  myself.     The  men  need  some  diversion." 

"  As  soon  as  we  have  time  to  breathe  at  the  factory, 
we'll  spend  a  day  as  you  like.  That's  a  promise." 

"  Gustav,  I'm  going  to  write  to  my  father." 

"  To  tell  him  that  you  have  fallen  among  barbarians?  " 

"  That  I'm  so  happy  among  the  barbarians,  that  I  want 
to  do  something  to  make  them  happy  in  return." 

"  And  what  were  you  thinking  of  doing?  " 

"  My  father  must  help  you.  With  some  men  material 
welfare  comes  first,  with  others,  pride.  You  belong  to  the 
latter  class." 

"Is  that  a  wise  thing?" 

"  Yes,  for  we  all  share  the  feeling.  You  are  so  sure 
of  victory  that  you  carry  us  away.  Ycu  see  my  motive 
is  purely  selfish." 

"  Are  you  afraid  for  me?  " 

"  No." 

"  Thank  you.  That  means  more  to  me  than  your  father's 
money.  Pride  requires  the  faith  of  others  to  uphold  it. 
Without  it,  it  becomes  indiscretion.  I  haven't  come  to 
that  yet,  thank  Heaven." 

She  shook  his  hand. 


242  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

"  I  just  wanted  you  to  know." 

He  looked  at  her  with  a  feeling  of  warm  comradeship, 
then  he  went  home.  The  afternoon  did  not  drag.  Once, 
with  wife  and  children,  the  holidays  had  seemed  intermin- 
able. They  had  bored  one  another.  Their  subjects  of 
conversation  were  soon  exhausted.  Out  of  their  boredom 
had  sprung  that  readiness  to  be  annoyed,  which  people 
feel  who  do  not  mean  enough  to  one  another,  who  realize 
that  they  might  mean  much  more. 

Today  he  was  sufficient  unto  himself.  He  sat  on  the 
sofa  and  read  books  from  the  library  of  his  friend  Kolsch. 
He  had  read  for  weeks  now  and  his  holidays  had  become  a 
pleasure  to  him.  When,  in  the  evening,  he  sat  beside  his 
foreman,  thoughts  came  to  him  carrying  him  up  far  away 
from  the  factory.  He  rejoiced  in  them  as  in  a  sunny 
holiday.  He  felt  the  desire  to  express  them,  to  expand 
them.  The  presence  of  his  friend  created  the  mood,  and 
the  mood  a  new  world  in  which  even  workmen  rested  and 
wore  white  garments,  and  when  they  touched  one  another 
embraced  not  only  with  their  hands,  but  with  their  souls. 

And  one  evening  he  said  to  himself :  "  In  my  home,  in 
my  married  life,  there  has  been  no  forbearance.  How  can 
one  dare  to  hope  for  that  deep,  joyous  happiness  in  the 
beloved  when  one  comes  in  flinging  one's  working  dress 
into  the  corner,  demanding  love  as  a  right.  Love  is  not  a 
debt,  but  a  free  gift."  But  Emily  had  not  been  willing 
to  give  it  to  him.  She  had  run  away,  bearing  her  gifts 
with  her.  That  was  it.  He  could  not  forget  that.  He 
had  deceived  her  and  been  deceived  in  turn.  She  had 
worked  against  him,  in  his  home  and  out  of  it.  The  veins 
swelled  on  his  forehead.  In  the  room  it  grew  dark;  he 
could  no  longer  see  to  read.  "  Scharwachter,"  he  read 
on  every  page,  "  Scharwachter,  Scharwachter,  you  or  I, 
one  of  us  must  go  down." 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  243 

The  holiday  mood  had  fled.  What  were  novels  to  him? 
Novels  in  which  battles  were  fought  on  paper.  This  was  a 
real  fight.  A  fight  of  good  red  blood  against  a  dried-up, 
wizened  old  cheat.  "  I  am  more  useful  to  the  world 
than  he.  There  are  enough  hypocrites  without  him. 
There  are  none  too  many  honest  men.  That's  my 
credo" 

He  set  out  for  a  walk  through  the  narrow  streets. 
Passed  men  and  women  walking  pompously,  conscious  of 
their  holiday  garb.  The  fresh  air  had  a  cheering  effect, 
and  punctually  at  supper  time  he  reached  his  foreman's 
home. 

"  What  are  we  to  have  tonight?  " 

"  Ham  and  wheat  cake.  Anna  made  it  herself ;  she's 
baking  it  now.  As  thick  as  your  finger,  just  as  it  should 
be." 

"  The  thought  of  it  makes  my  mouth  water." 

They  called  to  Anna. 

After  supper,  Gustav  lighted  his  cigar  and  Kolsch  his 
pipe.  "  Reuter?  "  he  asked,  grinning. 

"  Yes,  Herr  Kolsch,  the  story  of  Korl  Hawermann.  It 
has  a  pleasant,  earthy  flavor  to  it,  it  takes  you  right  out 
into  the  woods." 

So  Korl  Hawermann  and  his  great  friend,  Brasig,  held 
the  floor.  Gustav  lay  back  full  length  in  his  armchair,  his 
cigar  in  his  mouth,  hands  clasped  behind  his  head.  When 
the  tale  was  sad,  he  frowned;  when  it  was  particularly 
funny,  he  laughed  so  that  the  cigar  nearly  fell  from  his 
mouth. 

"  No,  no,  don't  go  on.     Read  that  bit  again." 

The  reader  took  fire  from  the  enthusiasm  of  his  listener ; 
both  forgot  their  surroundings.  Anna  sat  in  the  corner 
at  her  work  table.  She  was  taking  a  holiday,  too,  looking 
at  the  roll  of  drawings  her  brother  had  given  her.  The 


244  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

sheets  crackled  in  her  fingers  from  time  to  time  as  she 
turned  them,  otherwise  she  made  no  sound. 

Once  her  father  spoke  to  her  over  his  shoulder.  "  Hello, 
child,  what  are  you  doing?  " 

"  Looking  at  pictures." 

"  Listen,  Anna,  this  Reuter  is  a  famous  fellow." 

"  I'm  listening,  father." 

Once  more  was  heard  the  voice  of  the  reader,  a  murmur 
or  a  laugh  from  the  listener,  and  the  crackling  of  the 
sheets  of  paper  in  the  hands  of  the  girl,  who  sat 
lost  in  thought.  Suddenly  she  was  startled.  The  men 
had  come  to  a  fine  passage,  roars  of  laughter  shook  the 
room. 

"  Heavens,  how  you  frightened  me." 

Gustav  turned  round  quickly.  "  Splendid,  isn't  it, 
Fraulein  Anna?  " 

He  jumped  and  caught  the  papers,  which  had  fallen 
from  her  lap.  "  He's  too  funny  for  words.  He's  a  true 
humorist,  that  man.  He  makes  one  laugh  and  cry  at 
once." 

"  Thank  you,"  she  said,  as  she  took  the  leaves. 

"  You  were  dreaming,  I  do  believe.  Were  the  pictures 
so  charming?  What  is  it?  Love's  young  dream  or  Saint 
Genoveva  with  Prince  Schmerzensreich?  " 

Their  glances  met.  "  Child,"  said  Gustav,  "  if  I  have 
made  fun  of  anything  sacred  to  you,  forgive  me.  I  meant 
nothing." 

"  You  may  see  them,  Herr  Gustav."  She  held  out  the 
papers  hesitatingly. 

Gustav  waved  them  merrily  aside,  but  he  caught  sight 
of  one  of  the  pages. 

"  What  a  strange  subject  for  dreams." 

Here  the  foreman  came  forward,  frowning,  blinking,  as 
though  he  could  hardly  see. 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  245 

"What  is  it,  Anna?  Where  did  you  get  those?  Are 
they  so  important?  " 

He  took  the  leaves  and  glanced  at  them,  then  looked 
across  quickly  at  Gustav,  who  took  them  from  him.  Now 
they  examined  them  together. 

"  But  these  are — these  are — Kolsch,  what  do  you  think 
of  them?" 

"  No,  Herr  Gustav,  you  speak  first." 

"  They  are  priceless.  These  are  sketches  of  marvelous 
skill  and  wonderful  variety  of  design.  Just  look  here ! 
This  gorgeous  pattern  for  ribbon,  and  here,  this  fantastic- 
ally beautiful  lace.  This  is  a  revelation.  It'll  smash  every- 
thing we've  ever  had  of  the  sort.  Where  did  they  come 
from?  Whose  sketches  are  they?  " 

"  Mine,"  said  Anna.  Suddenly  she  was  as  excited  as  the 
men. 

"Yours,  Fraulein?" 

"Yours,  Anna?" 

"  Can  you  really  use  them,  Herr  Gustav  ?  " 

"  Girl,  don't  ask  such  silly  questions.  You  don't  realize 
the  situation.  Can  I  use  them?  For  weeks  I  have  been 
searching  and  would  have  been  overjoyed  to  discover  the 
half  of  such  original  beauty.  And  all  this  time  these 
riches  have  lain  here  in  the  hand  of  a  child.  Don't  you 
know  how  disgraceful  it  was  of  you  to  keep  them  back? 
Doimerwetter,  don't  you  dare  laugh." 

"  But  I  must,  I'm  so  happy." 

"  Out  with  it,  whose  patterns  are  they?  " 

"Yours,  Herr  Wiskotten,  I'll  make  you  a  present  of 
them." 

"  Don't  joke.  It's  a  more  serious  matter  than  you  think. 
Are  these  free  ?  Has  anybody  else  seen  them  ?  Girl,  speak 
up  clearly." 

"  Herr  Wiskotten,  the  papers  are  free.     No  one  else 


246  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

has  seen  them.  They  were  given  to  me  a  short  while  ago, 
as  a  remembrance.  I  had  no  idea  they  were  worth  any- 
thing to  you.  But  now  I  am  as  pleased  as  you  are.  No, 
much,  much  more  pleased,  and  now  they  are  yours." 

Gustav  flung  the  sheets  on  the  table  and  seized  the  girl 
by  the  shoulder. 

"  Anna,  what  does  all  this  mean  ?  There  is  much  at 
stake.  My  head  is  swimming,  I  can't  talk  sensibly.  Is  it 
true  that  I  can  have  these  patterns  ?  " 

"  Yes,  yes,  Herr  Wiskotten,  a  thousand  times  yes." 

He  uttered  a  cry  like  a  hawk  that  falls  on  its  prey. 
Then  he  pressed  the  girl  to  him  so  violently  that  she  cried 
out. 

"  You  are  the  fairy  in  the  legend,  the  Easter  angel. 
Anna  dear,  where  did  you  get  these  treasures?  " 

"  From— from— 

"  Anna,  you  must  give  that  fellow  a  kiss  for  them." 

"  Now,  I  sha'n't  tell  you." 

"  Don't  give  him  a  kiss,  then.  Who  is  the  prodigal  who 
wastes  his  gifts  this  way?  " 

"  He  doesn't  waste  them  any  more." 

"  What?  " 

"  He  doesn't  draw  patterns  any  more.  That  was  just 
play  to  him.  He — he " 

"Who?" 

"Ewald!" 

He  was  so  surprised  that  he  let  her  go.  She  stood  be- 
fore the  men,  blushing,  smoothing  her  hair.  Kolsch 
clapped  her  on  the  shoulder,  his  eyes  shone ;  he  could  not 
speak. 

"Ewald?     Ewald?"  cried  Gustav,  utterly  astounded. 

"Don't  you  want  the  drawings  now?"  she  asked,  and 
her  cheek  paled. 

"  If  the  name  of  the  designer  were  Beelzebub,  Lucifer, 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  247 

Satan,  what's  in  a  name?  But  '  Wiskotten,'  "  he  breathed, 
deeply.  "  I  much  prefer  that  it  should  be  '  Wiskotten.'  " 

Thereupon  the  girl  threw  her  arms  round  the  necks  of 
the  two  men,  one  after  the  other. 

"  Now  everything's  all  right." 

"  Not  yet,  but  everything  will  be  all  right  now.  Kolsch, 
man,  good  old  friend,  don't  let  your  emotion  run  away 
with  you.  The  wind  has  turned,  now  we'll  set  sail." 

"  Herr  Gustav,  as  soon  as  we  start  in  with  these  splen- 
did, new  patterns,  all  patented,  Herr  Scharwachter  will 
have  to  give  in ;  it  will  ruin  him." 

"  Let  him  try  to  copy  us.  Now  let  us  see  whether  he 
has  imagination  or  only  conceit.  No  one  will  want  his  old 
crows,  when  we  come  along  with  our  birds  of  paradise.  No 
one  will  buy  his  stuff,  however  cheap,  just  to  keep  on  their 
shelves.  Ah,  Scharwachter,  I've  got  you  at  last !  " 

He  picked  up  the  papers,  one  after  another,  held  them 
at  a  distance,  held  them  close.  Kolsch  followed  his  ex- 
ample. 

"  I'd  like  to  wake  up  the  boys  to  tell  them,  but  we  must 
not  disturb  father,  he  needs  his  sleep.  I'm  so  glad  that — 
that— mother " 

The  old  man  nodded.  "  Yes,  she  supported  you  all 
through — through  thick  and  thin." 

"  Yes,  Mother " 

"  And  Ewald,  what  about  Ewald?  "  asked  Anna,  eagerly. 

Gustav  did  not  hear  her.  He  saw  nothing  but  the 
sketches,  saw  the  dyes  steam,  the  looms  turn,  William 
traveling,  the  orders  pouring  in. 

"  I  must  go  home,"  he  said,  "  and  sleep.  This  night  I 
shall  sleep  well.  Scharwachter  shall  be  my  guardian 
angel." 

Cold,  fierce  pride  gleamed  in  his  eyes,  pride  which  had 
long  lain  smoldering. 


248  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

"  Good  night,  Kolsch.    Good  night,  Fraulein  Anna.    If 

ever  you  need  me " 

"  Ewald  needs  you." 

"  Then  let  him  come  to  me.    I  will  take  care  of  him." 

Kolsch  accompanied  his  visitor  to  the  door.    As  he  came 

back  Anna  ran  to  him.     He  drew  her  lovingly  into  his 

arms. 

"  Will  it  be  all  right  with  the  factory  now,  father?  " 
He  looked  at  her  piercingly.     "  So  that's  the  reason 

you're  so  glad.    The  only  reason  ?  " 
•     •     •     •     • 

The  Wiskottens  were  assembled,  Mabel  with  them.  Just 
as  a  year  ago  they  had  passed  from  hand  to  hand  the 
skeins  which  proved  Fritz's  discovery,  so  today  they 
passed  the  sheets  of  patterns,  designed  by  Ewald,  which 
Ernst  Kolsch  had  given  his  sister  to  entertain  her  on  her 
homeward  journey. 

But  today  there  was  no  loud  rejoicing.  The  long- 
sustained  battle  of  the  winter,  with  its  heavy  losses,  had 
a  depressing  effect ;  their  eyes  shone  all  the  more  brightly 
for  that.  William  Wiskotten  spoke  first.  As  traveler  for 
the  firm  he  had  most  to  do  with  the  customers  and  his 
knowledge  of  likely  sales  made  him  the  surest  judge. 

"  I  am  ready  to  start  on  a  new  trip  as  soon  as  you  can 
get  out  the  pattern  cards.  I  guarantee  the  largest  sales 
we  have  ever  had." 

"At  prices  we  can  stand?" 

"  At  whatever  prices  we  choose.  The  people  must  buy 
them.  It  will  be  the  last  word  in  fashion. 

Frau  Wiskotten  laid  her  folded  hands  upon  the  table, 
looking  at  her  eldest  son.  She  sat  and  looked  at  him  till 
he  felt  her  glance.  He  raised  his  head  and  turned  it  slowly 
toward  her.  An  enigmatic,  motherly  smile  flitted  across 
her  face. 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  249 

"  I'll  get  hold  of  Brinckmann  today.  We  must  lose 
no  time.  Every  moment  is  precious.  He  must  give  up  his 
holiday  and  start  in  at  once  on  these  patterns.  The  draw- 
ings must  be  ready  for  the  looms  at  the  earliest  possible 
minute.  He  must  get  them  done  somehow  in  a  couple  of 
days,  if  we  have  to  hire  extra  help  for  him.  As  soon  as 
a  pattern  is  finished  it  must  be  patented.  Then — then — 
we  shall  see.  I  can  hardly  wait." 

They  all  began  to  speak  at  once.    Gustav  took  his  hat. 

"  We'll  drink  to  it  this  evening." 

"  No,  let's  have  our  drive  this  afternoon,"  pleaded  Mabel. 
"  You  promised  me,  and  you  really  ought  to  have  a  breath- 
ing space  before  the  battle.  It'll  make  the  time  seem 
shorter." 

"  Not  today,  Mabel.    I  must  see  Brinckmann." 

"  Tomorrow,  then ;  you'd  stifle  in  the  factory  tomorrow 
afternoon.  You  really  must  keep  your  promise." 

"  All  right,  then.  Otherwise  I  should  be  rushing  in 
every  minute  to  see  how  Brinckmann  was  getting  on. 
Tomorrow  I  should  really  be  in  the  way.  Where  shall 
we  go?" 

"  To  the  Neander  valley,  where  the  primitive  Rhine- 
landers — barbarians — lived.  The  proper  surroundings 
for  you  tomorrow." 

"Take  care,  little  mischief!" 

"I'm  coming  too,"  said  Fritz;  "I've  really  deserved 
it.  Hitherto  my  invention  has  brought  me  nothing  but 
annoyance." 

"  Paul  must  help  me  tomorrow  with  the  accounts," 
broke  in  August,  before  Paul  could  also  declare  his  in- 
tention to  make  one  of  the  party. 

"  Never  mind,  Paul.  Perhaps  August  will  take  you  with 
him  to  a  vestry  meeting." 

"  How  stupid  you  are." 


250  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

"Be  good,  August." 

The  elder  Wiskottens  were  alone.  They  sat  opposite 
one  another  at  the  long  table,  which  had  been  drawn  up 
close  to  the  window,  and  looked  out. 

"Mother?" 

"  Yes,  Father." 

"  Our  Ewald  drew  those." 

"  Yes,  Father.     God  so  willed  it." 

The  old  man  smiled  to  himself.  They  each  had  their 
own  opinion.  For  his  part  he  put  it  down  to  the  "  Wis- 
kotten  "  way. 

Next  day  at  noon  Gustav,  Fritz,  and  Mabel  drove 
through  Mettmann  to  the  Neander  valley.  The  landau 
was  comfortable,  the  day  as  bright  as  their  mood. 

"You  are  truly  wonderful,  Mabel.  I  should  certainly 
have  stifled  in  the  factory,  and  I  could  have  done  noth- 
ing to  help  things  forward.  Ah,  this  air  does  one  good ! 
Mabel,  that  horse  I  promised  you  looks  almost  a  possi- 
bility now.  See  to  it  that  William  chooses  a  good  one. 
He  must  do  the  choosing." 

Mabel  drew  in  the  air  with  a  sigh  of  content.  These 
men  appealed  to  her.  She  delighted  in  their  strength. 

Peasants  were  working  in  the  fields.  From  the  courts 
shouting  children  rushed  out,  pursuing  the  carriage.  They 
reached  the  hill,  then  the  path  led  through  the  wood  and 
out  into  the  open  again.  The  high  road  stretched  out 
in  front  of  them;  further  on  they  could  see  the  rocks  of 
the  Neander  valley. 

"  Mother  gave  me  a  regular  lecture  this  morning,"  said 
Mabel,  looking  serious,  "when  I  told  her  the  skulls  of 
men  had  been  found  here  whose  age  could  be  counted  not 
by  years  but  by  centuries.  «  The  oldest  man,'  said  mother, 
'  is  Adam,  and  he  was  born  5,900  years  ago.'  She  repri- 
manded me  for  not  knowing  my  Bible  better." 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  251 

The  brothers  laughed.  Suddenly  Gustav  leaned  out  of 
the  carriage,  looking  out  eagerly. 

"  What  are  you  looking  at,  Gustav  ?  " 

"  For  a  moment  I  thought,  but  it's  impossible.  No,  it 
really  is.  Look  over  there.  Good  Lord — there  among 
those  workmen — the  one  with  the  barrow  carrying  earth 
— do  you  see  him?  Isn't  it  Ewald?  " 

"Are  you  mad?" 

The  brothers  leaped  to  their  feet,  and  Mabel  with  them. 
They  stood  there,  upright  in  the  carriage,  which  was  rap- 
idly approaching  the  group  of  workmen. 

"Stop!" 

Gustav  got  out  of  the  carriage  and  walked  without 
hesitation  through  the  line  of  men  who  glared  at  him. 
He  reached  the  young  man  with  the  barrow  and  laid 
his  hand  on  his  shoulder.  "  Ewald !  " 

Ewald  thrust  the  barrow  from  him  and  turned  quickly. 
In  amazement  he  stared  at  his  brother.  Then  the  flush 
died  out  from  his  face,  he  compressed  his  lips,  and  his 
look  became  hostile. 

"What  does  this  mean?"  Gustav  kicked  at  the 
barrow. 

"  What  has  that  to  do  with  you?  " 

"  Oh,  ho,  so  you  are  going  to  take  that  tone,  are  you? 
What  do  you  mean  by  consorting  with  these  common 
people  ?  " 

"  You  can  see  for  yourself.     I  am  working." 

"  You  forget  that  you  bear  the  name  of  Wiskotten. 
Have  you  lost  your  senses?  I  have  just  come  in  the  nick 
of  time.  Here,  come  along  with  us." 

"  I  didn't  ask  your  help.  Don't  interfere  with  me  or 
I  shall  call  the  overseer." 

"  What,  you're  obstinate,  are  you  ?  "  Gustav  seized 
him  with  an  iron  grip.  "  Right  about  face.  Do  you  see 


252  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

that  carriage?  Fritz  is  here  and  William's  wife.  She 
will  be  delighted  to  greet  her  youngest  brother-in-law." 

Ewald  trembled.  He  had  noticed  the  lady.  "  Let  me 
go,"  he  cried;  "let  me  go  at  once.  I  will  not  go  with 
you.  Will  you  let  me  go  ?  Here,  help,  men ;  here,  help !  " 

The  workmen  ran  with  their  shovels.     "  Let  that  man 

go." 

"  No,  the  devil  to  you.  You  shall  come.  Quick, 
march!" 

"  I  have  nothing  to  do  with  him.  He  just  wants  to 
keep  me  from  working.  Won't  you  help  me?  " 

"  Here,  hands  off." 

Shovels  were  brandished  before  Gustav's  eyes,  but  he 
stood  firm.  Then  a  shovelful  of  earth  was  flung  in  his 
face.  He  let  go  his  hold  and  wiped  his  face.  Again  earth 
flew,  sticks  were  brandished,  thirty  voices  yelled  at  him. 
He  went  at  them,  head  first,  forcing  a  passage. 

Fritz  and  William  sprang  from  the  carriage  and  ran 
to  his  assistance.  They  were  received  with  a  howl  of  rage, 
mud  and  stones  followed.  They  succeeded  in  pulling  their 
brother  out  of  the  scrum  and  into  the  carriage.  Like 
an  avalanche  the  band  of  workmen  poured  after  them,  fury 
let  loose — among  them  Ewald  Wiskotten.  The  brothers 
reached  the  carriage,  where  Mabel  stood  with  raised 
lorgnette.  This  still  further  infuriated  the  mob. 

"  That  woman  there,  that  creature  !  " 

Gustav  climbed  on  to  the  box  seat,  dragged  the  reins 
and  whip  from  the  hands  of  the  terrified  driver,  and  drove 
the  horses  through  the  crowd  at  a  mad  rate,  plying  his 
whip  from  side  to  side,  scattering  the  men.  Curses  and 
stones  followed  the  carriage  as  it  flew  along. 

"What  in  the  world  was  it  all  about?"  asked  Mabel, 
astonished. 

"  Oh,  oh,"  Gustav  could  not  find  other  words,  "  only 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  253 

a  slight  ovation  prepared  for  you  by  your  youngest 
brother-in-law." 

"  What  delightfully  original  ideas  you  Wiskottens  do 
have." 

The  workmen  settled  down  again.  The  overseer  de- 
manded an  explanation. 

"  They  were  your  brothers  ?  "  he  said.  Mockingly  the 
men  looked  at  Ewald,  turning  their  backs  on  him. 

"  Hurry  up  and  go  back  to  them." 

Ewald  looked  at  them  sadly. 

"  Go,"  said  the  overseer.     "  You  do  not  belong  here." 

Ewald  turned  and  went  without  a  word.  Where  did  he 
belong?  Not  here,  not  there.  He  was  cold.  His  legs 
ached.  Worn  out,  defeated,  he  dragged  himself  along 
the  road  to  Diisseldorf,  which  seemed  endless  to  him.  He 
was  alone;  like  a  beaten  dog  he  crept  to  his  kennel. 


CHAPTER  IV 

"  You  cannot  say,  Gustav,  that  I  have  importuned  you 
unduly." 

"  I  should  not  dream  of  saying  that,  Herr  Pastor." 

"  When  this  misfortune,  this  misunderstanding  between 
you  and  your  wife  arose,  I  said  to  myself:  *  Men  like  Gus- 
tav Wiskotten  must  decide  questions  of  right  and  wrong 
for  themselves.  If  they  allow  themselves  to  be  convinced 
by  outsiders,  they  feel  humiliated.  Vanity  had  the  more 
power  over  them,  in  that  they  imagined  themselves  free 
from  it!'" 

"Vanity,  Herr  Pastor?  You  think  I'm  vain?  Really 
this  time  you  are  mistaken." 

"  Dear  Gustav,  I  am,  alas !  but  too  well  able  to  discern 
vanity,  hidden  though  it  be.  Men  are  more  prone  to  this 
fault  even  than  women.  We  encourage  it  in  the  weaker 
sex.  We  invent  velvets  and  satins,  ribbons  and  laces  to 
deck  them.  The  whole  industry  of  this  valley,  half  the 
industry  of  the  world,  is  in  league  to  flatter  them,  as  a 
man  will  flatter  a  child  he  loves.  The  vanity  of  women, 
then,  is  the  outcome  of  the  vanity  of  men.  It  is,  indeed. 
The  beauty  of  women  makes  them,  because  men  praise  it. 
The  lords  of  creation  demand  this  tribute  to  their  vanity. 
They  are  quite  disturbed  if  this  incense  which  they  pretend 
to  disdain  does  not  rise,  day  by  day,  to  their  nostrils.  The 
vanity  of  women  is  that  of  the  gift -bearing  child ;  that  of 
men  the  selfish  demand  of  the  master,  the  ruler." 

"I  think  you  have  hit  the  nail  on  the  head,  Herr 
Pastor." 

254 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  255 

"  Yes,  because  I  take  an  unbiased  view.  A  clergyman 
is,  to  some  extent,  a  third  sex,  like  a  doctor — nobody  minds 
him.  We  are,  so  to  speak,  lookers-on.  We  are  permitted 
to  praise  or  blame,  even  occasionally  give  advice  if  the 
players  are  in  doubt.  But  only  very  occasionally  is  our 
advice  followed.  If  we  press  our  claims,  they  even  refuse 
us  tickets  of  admission." 

"  My  house  has  always  been  open  to  you,  Herr 
Pastor." 

"  My  friend,  I  meant  nothing  personal.  What,  though, 
is  the  good  of  free  entrance  to  the  house  if  the  master 
withdraws  behind  a  veil?  " 

"  I'm  hardly  fit  company  for  myself." 

"  So  I  feared.  Because  you  feel  that  you  are  out  of 
tune  with  life.  Gustav,  let  me  speak  freely.  The  lack 
of  harmony  between  you  and  your  wife  is  much  to  be 
deplored,  but  it  need  not  build  an  insuperable  wall  dividing 
you  from  one  another.  No ;  where  the  vanity  of  man  sees 
a  mountain,  love  sees  a  grain  of  dust." 

"  I  listen  to  you,  Herr  Pastor,  because  it's  your  way 
and  I  know  you  mean  well.  For  the  same  reasons  I  will 
answer  you.  It  may  well  be  that  the  egoist  in  me  speaks. 
There  must  be  love  on  both  sides.  Where  am  I  to  find  it? 
Emily  says  that  I  have  neglected  her.  Is  that  to  be  won- 
dered at  when  she  withdrew  from  my  affection?  Perhaps 
I  am  somewhat  like  a  bull  in  a  china  shop,  but  a  clever 
wife  would  have  known  how  to  manage  me,  to  rivet  the 
chains  of  love.  But,  no,  I  bored  her.  It  was  not  that 
I  kicked  over  the  traces  once  or  twice.  No,  she  was  tired 
of  life  with  me.  That's  the  whole  story." 

"  You  think,  then,  that  your  wife  is  not  consistent?  " 

"  Herr  Gott,  she's  a  woman,  not  a  wonder !  " 

"And  are  you,  then,  a  wonder?" 

"  I  never  pretended  to  be.     No,  nor  to  be  infallible, 


256  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

either,  especially  in  my  treatment  of  Emily.  But  what 
the  devil!  Excuse  me,  Herr  Pastor;  it  slipped  out  acci- 
dentally. What  right  has  she  to  minimize  her  faults  and 
magnify  mine?  To  punish  me  by  taking  the  children 
away,  while  she  herself  goes  free?  Women  are  like  chil- 
dren ;  you  must  be  firm  with  them.  If  you  begin  to  pity 
them  they'll  go  on  crying  forever." 

"  What  can  you  suggest,  then  ?  " 

"  Admire  their  courage ;  then,  like  children,  they'll  for- 
get the  hurt." 

"  I  have  had  no  experience  of  the  kind,"  said  Pastor 
Schirrmacher,  "  but  perhaps  you  will  explain  what  courage 
you  mean " 

"  The  courage  of  the  woman  who  dares  all  for  the 
man  she  loves.  Never  makes  a  mountain  out  of  a  mole- 
hill, and  when  a  real  mountain  looms  into  sight  treat  it 
as  if  it  were  a  molehill.  The  courage  to  trust  him  rather 
than  her  early  education.  Emily's  education  was  all 
wrong,  therefore  her  love  was  all  wrong.  She  had  not 
the  courage  to  adapt  herself  to  entirely  new  conditions, 
such  as  marriage  naturally  brings  about.  The  courage 
to  trust  her  husband  to  set  things  right.  The  wife  who 
swears  by  her  father's  wisdom  is  no  true  wife  to  her 
husband." 

*'  You  think  your  wife  was  dissatisfied  with  herself, 
felt  something  of  all  this?  " 

"  She  is  not  naturally  cold-blooded,  that  I  know,  once 
she  is  stirred.  Only  her  education  made  her  think  it  was 
wrong.  She  looked  on  our  love  as  a  sort  of  crime.  This 
is  telling  tales  out  of  school,  Herr  Pastor." 

Pastor  Schirrmacher  nodded.  "  We  should  never  need 
to  be  ashamed  of  the  human  element  in  us,  but  remem" 
ber,  Gustav,  woman  is  the  weaker  vessel,  in  spite  of  all 
her  desire  for  emancipation.  Without  love  she  will  never 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  257 

find  the  harmony  she  yearns  for.  The  sex  bitterness  is 
felt  only  by  the  lonely  women.  See  to  it,  Gustav,  that 
Emily  is  freed  from  this  bitterness ;  free  her  from  it,  my 
son." 

"  You  treat  the  matter  with  a  gentleness  I  had  hardly 
expected  from  you,  Herr  Pastor." 

Pastor  Schirrmacher  smiled.  "  In  the  pulpit  I  have 
to  thunder,  otherwise  the  people  would  go  away  unsatis- 
fied ;  but  we  two  can  talk  together  as  man  to  man.  Adieu, 
Gustav;  I'll  visit  you  again  soon." 

"  But  please  choose  some  other  subject  for  conversa- 
tion, Herr  Pastor." 

Outside  the  house  Pastor  Schirrmacher  ran  into  Anna 
Kolsch.  "  Are  you  going  on  a  journey,  child?  "  he  asked, 
pointing  to  her  valise. 

"  Only  to  Diisseldorf,"  she  answered,  hastily. 

"  But  this  is  not  the  way  to  the  station." 

"  I  have  to  speak  first  with  Herr  Wiskotten." 

"  You'll  find  him  at  home.  Listen,  you're  going  to 
Diisseldorf,  you  say.  Well,  you  could  do  something  for 
me.  Will  you  go  to  Frau  Gustav  Wiskotten?  " 

"What  good  could  I  do?  "  she  asked,  reluctantly. 

"  Visit  her,  see  how  things  are  with  her,  talk  with  her, 
tell  her  of  Herr  Gustav." 

"  I  have  nothing  good  to  tell  her  of  him." 

"  Gently,  gently,  my  dear ;  you  should  not  set  yourself 
up  as  j  udge.  But  that  is  the  way  of  women :  they  cannot 
make  nice  distinctions ;  they  are  apt  to  be  too  impulsive. 
Go,  all  the  same,  to  Frau  Emily.  Between  you,  you  may 
get  at  the  truth.  A  pleasant  journey  to  you." 

Anna  rushed  past  him  up  the  stairs.  She  met  Gustav 
as  he  was  about  to  set  out  for  the  factory. 

"  Why,  Anna,  you're  a  regular  firebrand." 

"  Herr  Wiskoten,  is  it  true,  is  it  true?  " 


258  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

"Is  what  true,  Anna?" 

"  That  you  found  Ewald  yesterday  among  some  work- 
men and  thrashed  him?  " 

"  Nonsense ;  thrashed  him,  indeed !  I  took  hold  of  him 
a  trifle  roughly  perhaps." 

"  You  had  no  right  to  touch  him." 

"  What?  Well,  really.  O-ho !  I  had  no  right  to  touch 
him?  He  was  to  disgrace  the  family  through  his  ob- 
stinacy ?  Make  a  laughing  stock  of  us  ?  " 

"  And  you — aren't  you  obstinate  yourself?  " 

"  Child,  you  amuse  me.  It's  time  I  was  at  the  factory 
now." 

"  Of  course,  because  you  know  you're  in  the  wrong. 
That's  why  you  are  so  anxious  to  go.  Ewald  is  worth 
all  the  rest  of  you  put  together." 

"  Anna,  I  think  you  have  said  enough." 

"  A  man  who  struggles  as  he  has  struggled,  who  works 
at  anything,  anything,  rather  than  accept  charity." 

"  And  we?    Do  we  accept  charity?  " 

"Yes,  you  do,  you  do,  and  then  you  injure  the  man 
who  gave  it.  That — that — is " 

"  That  is  despicable,  you  mean  to  say.  I'll  put  it  down 
to  your  youthful  excitability.  It  may  interest  you  to  know 
that  I  hardly  yet  feel  clean  after  the  filth  his  companions 
flung  at  me." 

The  girl  burst  into  tears — tears  of  fury.  "What  do 
you  want  of  him?  If  he  had  not  run  away  to  Diisseldorf, 
to  that  life  of  misery,  you  would  have  been  ruined  at  the 
factory.  Only  his  splendid  patterns  can  save  you.  Father 
and  you  both  acknowledge  that.  You  might  at  least  have 
thanked  him,  instead  of  blaming  him  and  making  his  life 
still  harder  for  him.  Ewald  is  very  sensitive  and  not  at 
all  strong.  If  things  go  too  far,  he  may  never  recover. 
But  you,  with  your  brute  strength,  think  nothing  of  hurt- 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  259 

ing  him.  Everybody  is  not  like  you.  Some  people  have 
delicate  natures." 

"  You  do  not  appear  to  be  one  of  them,  Anna." 

"At  least  I  have  a  sense  of  justice." 

"  And  you  think  I  have  not?  " 

"  You  did  justice  to  his  drawings  because  it  suited  you 
to  do  so.  But  you  took  everything  as  a  matter  of  course, 
just  because  it  was  the  work  of  a  Wiskotten.  Instead 
of  trying  to  help  Ewald " 

"  He  will  accept  no  help." 

"  No,"  she  said,  and  quickly  dried  her  eyes,  "  nor  would 
I  in  his  place.  What  he  needs  is  affection,  but  the  Wis- 
kotten family  would  think  it  were  losing  caste  if  it  were 
to  show  any  feeling." 

"  Child,  you  are  straining  our  friendship." 

The  girl  raised  her  head  and  looked  at  him,  unafraid. 
"What  need  have  you  of  my  friendship?  You  are  suffi- 
cient unto  yourself.  I  prefer  to  offer  it  to  those  who  are 
not  so — so  healthy." 

"  Fraulein  Anna,  do  not  forget " 

"  No,  I  will  not  forget  that  I  am  the  daughter  of  your 
foreman." 

"  Girl,  don't  make  me  furious.  You  know  I  mean  no 
such  thing.  But  I  have  not  time  now  to  bother  about 
anything  outside  the  factory.  First  comes  the  Herr  Pas- 
tor, and  now  you — and  behave  as  though  I  were  holding 
an  '  at  home  '  and  we  had  the  whole  afternoon  to  waste, 
and,  meantime,  in  the  drawing  room,  the  pattern  room, 
in  the  binding  room,  everywhere,  my  presence  is  urgently 
needed.  Business  before  pleasure." 

"  How  can  such  work  bring  pleasure?  " 

"  Anna,  you  are  usually  a  sensible  creature.  The  de- 
cisive moment  has  come.  I  need  everything  I  possess — 
strength,  wits,  energy,  brains.  Just  now  it  is  not  a  ques- 


260  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

tion  of  Ewald  or  myself,  but  of  the  whole  Wiskotten  fam- 
ily. While  I  need  all  my  resources  for  the  battle,  I  can 
waste  none  looking  up  deserters,  but  I  use  their  arms  if 
they  fall  into  my  hands.  When  the  battle  is  over  we 
shall  see.  Then  there  will  be  time  enough  to  bind  up 
wounds." 

"  But  supposing  that  the  wounded  are  dead  ?  " 

"  Such  is  the  fortune  of  war.  I  run  as  big  a  risk  as 
any." 

"  Then  I  must  go  alone." 

"  That's  right.  That's  a  woman's  work.  Nurses  are 
a  sop  to  our  consciences." 

"  I  sometimes  wonder,  Herr  Wiskotten " 

"Whether  I  have  one?  There,  look  out  the  window. 
There  it  is  before  your  eyes — the  factory.  That  is  my 
conscience.  Hundreds  of  lives  whose  well-being  has  been 
entrusted  to  me — they  are  my  conscience.  What  is  my 
small  private  conscience  in  comparison?  Take  two  or 
three  men  from  hundreds,  what  difference  does  it  make? 

But  take  hundreds  from  two  or  three  and Good-by, 

Anna,  I  must  go  to  the  factory.  We  are  at  a  critical 
point  and  I  must  appease  my  conscience." 

Anna  traveled  to  Diisseldorf  on  the  afternoon  train. 
She  sat  in  the  carriage  thinking  things  over.  Private 
conscience !  Could  it  be  the  woman's  place  to  be  the  man's 
private  conscience? 

She  went  to  Ernst's  lodgings ;  he  was  not  there.  She 
took  a  cab  and  went  round  to  all  the  inns  he  patronized, 
in  vain.  To  hide  her  dismay  from  the  driver  she  told 
him  to  drive  to  the  park.  Twilight  gleamed  through  the 
trees ;  she  felt  terrified,  confused.  Should  she  go  alone 
to  find  Ewald?  The  thought  frightened  her.  She  thought 
of  the  awful  house,  of  the  tightly  packed  inhabitants. 
They  would  all  come  to  their  doors  to  see  why  this  girl 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  261 

knocked  so  persistently  at  a  young  man's  door.  No,  she 
could  not  go  alone.  She  must  have  a  companion  to  lend 
her  courage.  But — who — who?  Whom  did  she  know  in 
Diisseldorf  except  Ernst?  Suddenly  the  thought  of 
Emily  occurred  to  her.  She  sat  up  in  the  carriage.  Emily 
Wiskotten!  She  hesitated  but  a  second.  Gustav's  wife 
would  help  her.  She  knew  it.  First,  because  she  was 
a  woman,  and,  secondly,  because  she  herself  was  an  exile. 
She  would  not  let  her  brother-in-law  suffer  because  she 
had  been  disappointed  in  her  husband.  That  was  not  a 
woman's  way. 

"  Drive  to  Gartenstrasse,  to  the  house  of  Fraulein 
Scharwachter,  coachman,"  she  said. 

Five  minutes  later  the  carriage  stopped  before  the 
house.  She  told  the  driver  to  wait,  and  rang  the  bell. 
Old  Fraulein  Scharwachter  herself  came  to  the  door. 

"  Could  I  speak  for  a  moment  to  Frau  Wiskotten?  " 

"Who  is  it,  please?  " 

"  Anna  Kolsch,  from  Barmen." 

"  Not  the  daughter  of " 

"  Yes,  the  daughter  of  foreman  Kolsch  of  the  Wiskotten 
factory.  Please  let  me  speak  to  Frau  Wiskotten." 

"  Step  in  here.  There  is  nothing  wrong  at  the 
factory?" 

"  No,  no,  I  only  wanted " 

"  Yes,  yes,  at  once ;"  and  the  old  lady  hurried  off. 

Anna  heard  a  door  bang,  steps  descend  the  stairs,  and 
Emily  Wiskotten  stood  before  her. 

"What  is  it?  Why  have  you  come?  Has  anything 
happened?  Gustav?  For  Heaven's  sake,  speak!  Is  my 
husband  well?  111?  What  ails  him?  Speak,  Anna !" 

"  Oh,  Frau  Wiskotten,  if  only  he  could  see  you  like 
that!" 

Emily  seized  the  girl's  hands,  her  eyes  were  set,  her 


262  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

shoulders  shaking.  "Did  he  send  for  me?  Shall  I  come 
home?  I  know  he's  ill,  otherwise  he  would  never  have 
sent  you.  Anna,  is  it  serious?" 

"  Frau  Wiskotten,  your  husband  is  well.  He  needs  noth- 
ing or  will  not  admit  that  he  needs  anything.  Just  now 
the  factory  fills  his  thoughts.  That  is  why  I  have  come 
to  you." 

"  Because  the  factory — the  factory "  Her  arms 

fell  limp,  her  eager  features  stiffened. 

"  Sit  down,  won't  you?  " 

"  No,  Frau  Wiskotten.  I  cannot  stay ;  I  want  you 
to  come  with  me." 

"He  does  not  need  me;  he  shows  it  clearly  enough." 
She  stood  up,  very  straight,  but  a  tear  or  two  fell  from 
her  eyes  and  wet  her  pale  cheeks. 

"  Indeed,  Frau  Wiskotten,  he  needs  you.  All  the  more 
because  he  thinks  only  of  the  factory.  He  needs  someone 
to  arrange  all  those  things  he  has  not  time  for  himself. 
A  wife — I  thought  this  out  on  the  way  here — should  be  a 
man's  private  conscience,  to  remind  him  of  things  he 
forgets  in  the  stress  of  work.  Frau  Wiskotten,  it's 
about  Ewald.  I  don't  know  what  will  become  of  him. 
The  men  cannot  bother  about  him,  they  are  so  busy  just 
now.  So  we  women  must  see  to  it.  Just  to  show  the 
men  that  they  need  the  private  consciences.  That  with- 
out them  success  itself  would  be  savorless." 

"  Ewald?  "  repeated  Emily  Wiskotten,  but  she  was  not 
thinking  what  she  said. 

Then  Anna  told  her  breathlessly  the  story  of  his  strug- 
gles, of  his  sketches  which  were  now  being  used  in  the 
factory  to  strike  the  decisive  blow  against  Scharwachter, 
and  of  their  treatment  of  their  deliverer.  They  had  been 
angry  with  him  just  because  he  had  been  as  proud  and 
obstinate  as  Gustav  himself. 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  263 

"  And  now  ?  "  said  Emily,  who  had  suddenly  begun  to 
listen  again. 

"  We  must  find  Ewald  and  make  up  to  him  for  the  way 
the  family  has  treated  him.  Since  he  has  helped  the  fac- 
tory, we  must  help  him.  If  the  men  forget,  we  women 
must  show  them  what  they  ought  to  do." 

"  Come,"  said  Emily  Wiskotten.  "  You  are  right ;  we 
must  show  them  their  duty,  tell  them  what  they  ought 
to  do." 

"  Oh,  Frau  Wiskotten !  " 

In  the  woman's  eyes  there  was  a  pensive  light,  a  lin- 
gering smile  that  hurt. 

"  Weak  men  cannot  understand  that,  but  strong  men 
must  be  shown  that  they  cannot  look  away  over  our  heads. 
I  have  just  realized  that." 

"  I  have  a  carriage  outside." 

"  Wait,  I  must  say  good  night  to  the  children.  Do  you 
think  that  Ewald  is  ill?" 

"  I  only  know  that  he  must  feel  terribly  alone." 

"  That  is  still  worse.     Wait,  Anna." 

When  she  came  back  her  mind  was  clearly  made  up. 
She  was  livelier  than  before,  as  though  warmed  by  some 
secret  joy.  In  silence  they  drove  to  Ratmgerstrasse 
and  climbed  the  four  flights  of  stairs. 

"We  won't  knock,"  whispered  Anna;  "if  we  do,  he 
won't  let  us  in." 

Resolutely  she  turned  the  handle  of  the  door.  It  was 
locked.  There  was  no  sound  from  within.  The  women 
looked  at  one  another;  in  the  corridor,  lighted  by  a  dim 
oil  lamp,  the  air  was  thick  and  foul;  they  found  it  hard 
to  breathe.  Emily  held  her  handkerchief  to  her  mouth 
and  Anna  bit  her  lips. 

"  We  must  go  to  his  landlady,"  she  whispered.  They 
gathered  their  skirts  closely,  so  as  to  make  no  noise.  The 


264  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

gray-haired  woman  sat  at  her  evening  meal,  clad  in 
a  dirty  dressing  jacket,  a  torn  nightcap  on  her  head, 
from  under  which  escaped  uncombed  meshes  of  straggly 
hair. 

"  We  wanted  to  see  Herr  Wiskotten." 

"  Next  door." 

"  The  door  is  locked." 

"  I  can't  help  that." 

Emily  Wiskotten  laid  a  mark  on  the  table.  "  Would 
you  be  so  kind  as  to  see  that  it  is  opened  ?  " 

The  old  woman  picked  up  the  mark,  looked  hard  at  it, 
then  slipped  it  into  the  table  drawer  and  rose. 

"  You  must  not  say  that  anyone  is  here." 

The  old  woman  shuffled  off  in  her  felt  slippers.  She 
knocked  next  door,  then  again  louder. 

"  Gracious  me,  what  does  this  mean  ?  Have  you  seen 
my  match  box?  It's  in  there.  Let  me  come  in  and  get 
it." 

The  key  turned  in  the  lock,  the  old  woman  entered. 
Emily  and  Anna  stood  close  to  the  door.  As  the  old 
woman  came  out,  coughing,  they  held  open  the  door  and 
entered. 

"  Who's  there?  "  asked  a  hoarse  voice,  from  the  window 
corner. 

"  Good  evening,  Ewald,"  said  Emily.  "  I'll  make  a 
light." 

She  groped  about  and  found  a  small  reading  lamp  on 
a  box. 

"  Don't  light  up,  don't ;"  but  already  the  red  gleam 
shone  through  the  room.  Ewald  had  flung  himself  upon 
his  mattress.  He  lay  there  in  his  old  coat,  wrapped  in 
a  torn  blanket,  his  face  to  the  wall,  his  eyes  closed.  In 
the  dim  light  his  nose  showed  sharp,  his  cheek  bones 
prominent. 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  265 

"  Leave  my  room !  " 

"Who  do  you  imagine  it  is,  then?  Open  your  eyes, 
Ewald.  It's  Emily,  your  sister-in-law." 

He  turned  his  head  from  the  wall  and  opened  his  eyes. 

"  Anna !  "  he  cried.  His  head  fell  back ;  he  looked  at 
the  women  in  helpless  fury. 

"  Please  greet  us  more  kindly.  We  have  done  nothing 
to  hurt  you."  Emily  held  out  her  hand.  He  pushed  it 
away,  his  gaze  fixed  on  Anna. 

"  So  you've  spied  me  out  again?  " 

"  Scold  away,  Ewald,"  said  the  girl,  calmly.  "  You 
can't  get  rid  of  me  this  time." 

"  This  is  my  room ;  I  am  master  here ! " 

"Ewald!  Ewald!"  said  Emily,  soothingly,  and  laid 
her  hand  on  his  forehead  with  a  womanly,  motherly  ges- 
ture. "  You  are  ill,  Ewald ;  you  must  do  as  we  tell 
you." 

"  I'll  take  nothing  from  the  family !  " 

"  Who  is  speaking  of  the  family  ?  We  are  companions 
in  misfortune.  We  must  help  one.  another." 

He  looked  at  her,  not  knowing  what  to  do.  Was  this 
Gustav's  wife? 

"  It's  really  so,  Ewald ;  we  are  companions  in  misfor- 
tune. You  did  not  know  it,  did  you,  or  you  would  have 
come  to  me?  " 

"  I  heard  once  that— but " 

"  You  did  not  believe  it.  I  don't  blame  you !  I  haven't 
lost  hope  yet,  and  neither  must  you.  That's  why  I  came 
to  find  you.  Look  here,  Ewald,  I  am  having  a  pretty 
bad  time,  but  you  are  having  a  still  worse  one.  We'll  join 
forces  and  divide  our  troubles." 

"  But,  Emily " 

"  What  ?  Would  you  leave  your  sister-in-law  in  the 
lurch?  When  they  all  seem  to  have  forgotten  me?  You 


266  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

are  different,  you  with  your  young  enthusiasm.  People 
who  are  unhappy  must  comfort  one  another." 

"  Yes,  Emily." 

"  Are  you  in  pain?  "    He  looked  around  uneasily. 

"In  pain?    Oh,  no  !  " 

"What's  the  matter,  then?  We  must  have  no  secrets 
from  one  another." 

His  jaws  moved.  Slowly  a  deep  flush  spread  from  his 
throat  up  over  his  sunken  cheeks. 

"  Don't  let  Anna  hear,"  he  murmured. 

Emily  motioned  smilingly  to  Anna  to  step  back;  then 
she  bent  over  Ewald. 

"  Now  tell  me,  what  is  it?  " 

He  tried  to  speak,  but  the  words  would  not  come; 
the  fever  in  his  cheeks  seemed  to  rise  like  a  hot  wave. 

"  Come,  what  is  it?  "  she  repeated,  softly. 

"  Hunger ! "  he  cried,  and  hid  his  face  in  his  hands. 
The  word  rose  like  a  giant,  swayed  on  lean  limbs  through 
the  room,  struck  against  the  empty  boxes,  rattled  like 
rats'  teeth  against  the  straw  of  his  mattress.  Anna  felt 
that  the  horror  of  it  filled  the  room.  Her  face  and  hands 
turned  cold,  her  breath  came  in  gasps,  a  heavy  sob  caught 
in  her  throat,  she  was  like  a  child  crying  alone  in  the 
dark.  With  imploring  eyes  she  gazed  at  Emily.  Emily's 
hand  had  trembled  for  an  instant,  but  she  had  repressed 
the  shudder  which  ran  through  her.  Hunger !  She  felt 
it,  too;  he  admitted  his.  She  forced  her  glance  to  re- 
main calm  and  deliberate,  almost  cold.  So  this  was  the 
way  the  Wiskottens  treated  those  who  would  not  submit 
to  their  dictates :  they  starved  them  out. 

"You're  like  a  child,  Ewald!"  she  said.  "When  one 
is  hungry,  one  eats.  One  does  not  lie  down  and  draw 
the  blanket  over  one's  head.  Heavens,  what  a  goose  you 
are!" 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  267 

Still  he  held  his  hands  before  his  face,  but  he  was 
listening,  wonderingly.  Had  she  not  understood  him? 

"  I  would  ask  you  to  come  straight  home  with  me," 
she  went  on,  in  the  same  tone,  which  seemed  to  take  every- 
thing for  granted,  "  but  Aunt  Josephine,  with  whom  I 
live,  is  a  ceremonious  old  thing  and  must  be  prepared. 
I  know !  We  will  have  dinner  here.  Anna  shall  buy  the 
things." 

He  was  still  silent,  anxious  not  to  drive  away  this  dream. 
He  wanted  to  be  looked  after,  petted.  It  was  like  a  fairy 
tale. 

Emily  spoke  quietly  to  Anna. 

"  Should  you  be  afraid  to  go  out?  " 

"  Afraid?    Oh,  no  !  "    But  her  teeth  chattered. 

"  Meanwhile  I'll  bring  in  a  little  fire  from  the  next  room. 
We  sha'n't  get  away  from  here  to-night." 

When  Anna  returned,  a  quarter  of  an  hour  later,  with 
a  bottle  of  port  wine,  cocoa,  milk,  eggs,  and  biscuits,  the 
stove  was  lighted,  the  large  box  beside  the  window  covered 
with  a  cloth,  two  plates,  two  cups,  and  a  small  sauce- 
pan. 

"  The  others  were  not  clean,"  said  Emily.  "  We  can 
do  with  these.  The  old  woman  will  take  a  letter  to  Aunt 
Josephine  to  tell  her  that  I  am  not  returning  home  to- 
night. I  gave  her  another  mark." 

"  I'll  make  scrambled  eggs ;  that's  easy." 

"  Give  me  the  bottle  of  wine.  Some  of  that  will  cheer 
him  up." 

Anna  kept  in  the  background.  Ewald  must  notice  her 
presence  as  little  as  possible.  She  set  the  saucepan  on 
the  stove,  turned  her  back  to  the  room,  and  busied  her- 
self with  the  cooking.  Emily  poured  out  a  cup  of  the 
wine,  and  bending  over  the  boy,  who  stretched  out  stiffly, 
forced  him  to  drink. 


268  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

"  This  will  do  you  good.  Slowly  now,  in  little  sips." 
He  drank.  A  few  minutes  later  a  shadow  crept  forward. 
Anna  carried  the  pan  to  the  table  and  retired  again  to  her 
corner,  looking  out  with  great,  eager  eyes.  Emily  filled 
a  plate  with  egg,  soaked  a  biscuit  in  the  wine,  and  slipped 
her  arm  under  Ewald's  shoulders. 

"  Now,  eat !  " 

With  eyes  still  fixed  upon  the  blanket  he  ate  slowly  at 
first,  then  more  and  more  quickly.  The  last  drops  of  the 
wine  he  emptied  greedily  from  the  cup,  bread  and  all. 
Carefully  Emily  let  him  slip  back  on  his  mattress.  Her 
strength,  like  his  pride,  had  come  to  an  end. 

"Are  you  comfortable?"  she  asked,  controlling  her 
agitation.  He  did  not  answer;  the  wine  had  intoxicated 
him.  As  his  limbs  relaxed  he  fell  asleep. 

Emily  tiptoed  through  the  room.  Anna  moved,  came 
forward  a  little  to  meet  her.  They  clung  to  one  another 
as  though  for  mutual  support.  Suddenly,  as  though  the 
barriers  were  down,  they  wept  unrestrainedly. 

"  Be  quiet !  "  said  Emily.     "  He  must  not  hear." 

"  I  can't  bear  to  look  at  him !  " 

"  Oh,  Anna !  whether  I  look  at  him  or  not ' 

"  Frau  Wiskotten,  the  man  of  whom  you  are  thinking, 
he  is  hungry  too;  only  he  is  stronger  than  Ewald,  and 
can  bear  it  longer." 

11 1 — 7  am  starving !  " 

"  No,  it's  Herr  Gustav  who  is  starving.  I  know  it.  I 
see  him  every  day.  He  won't  admit  it,  he's  afraid 
of  appearing  weak.  But  he  thinks  of  you  all  the 
time." 

They  sat  close  together  on  the  box,  the  only  piece  of 
furniture.  The  light  from  the  stove  and  the  lamp  threw 
dancing  shadows  across  the  empty  room. 

"  Does  he  ever  say  anything  about  me?  " 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  269 

"  No,  but  one  feels  his  need  of  you  in  everything  he 
says,  Frau  Wiskotten." 

"  Call  me  Emily,  then  I  can  speak  more  freely." 

"  Yes,  Emily."    The  girl  snuggled  closer  to  her. 

"  And  what— what  does  he  say?  " 

"  He  yearns  for  happiness,  real  happiness." 

"  And  he  means  me  to  bring  it,  not  some  other  woman?  " 

"  He  sees  no  one  but  us.     He  lives  at  the  factory." 

"  How  does  he  look,  Anna?  " 

"  At  our  house,  serious ;  at  the  factory,  stern." 

"  How  are  things  at  the  factory?  " 

"  Your  father,  Herr  Scharwachter,  tried  to  ruin  it. 
Things  went  from  bad  to  worse.  Then  Herr  Gustav  set 
his  teeth,  risked  every  penny  he  had,  my  father  says,  so 
that  his  brothers  might  not  suffer." 

"  Gustav  did  that?  "  said  Emily,  gazing  into  the  fire. 

"  And  now  they  have  Ewald's  new  patterns.  With  them 
Herr  Gustav  will  make  his  last  stand  against  Herr 
Scharwachter.  Father  says  he  won't  have  a  chance  against 
them." 

"Who  won't  have  a  chance?" 

"  Herr  Scharwachter,"  answered  the  girl,  anxiously. 

"  Ah — not  Gustav "  she  breathed  again,  raising  her 

head. 

"  I  don't — don't — understand  you,  Emily." 

"  I  don't  understand  myself.  It  is  right  so.  Hitherto 
I  have  always  obeyed  my  father,  always,  always,  and  I 
was  afraid  for  Gustav.  Anna,  he  must  not  be  beaten  !  " 

"  Nor  will  he.    But  what  of  Herr  Scharwachter?  " 

"  Tell  me  of  Gustav.  If  I  humble  myself  to  you,  no  one 
else  will  know.  But  my  father,  my  father  would  cease  to 
exist  for  me  if  he  were  to  humble  Gustav.  No  one  must 
do  that,  no  one." 

"  Oh,  Emily,  if  you  could  only  tell  him  that  yourself." 


270  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

"  When  he  is  not  here  I  can  say  it.  This  long,  ter- 
rible loneliness.  One  stands  revealed  to  oneself  in  all  one's 
nakedness.  One  realizes  that  all  this  petty  resistance,  the 
fear  lest  others  should  see  and  misunderstand,  is  simply 
affectation.  Because  I  would  not  admit  that  I  was  de- 
ceiving myself  and  him  with  me,  I  grew  irritable  and  em- 
bittered, making  everybody  suffer.  Then  I  left  him.  I 
was  furious  with  myself,  because  I  seemed  to  mean  so 
little  to  him.  In  those  first  empty  days  and  sleepless 
nights  I  realized  that  I — was  the  guilty  one.  This  sepa- 
ration has  made  me  ill."  She  sat,  fingers  interwoven,  with 
averted  face.  "  When  you  are  a  wife,  Anna,  you  will  un- 
derstand. You  don't  know  how  much  a  husband  means 
to  one.  If  only  I  could  show  him,  but  I  should  feel  so — 
so — humiliated." 

"  Emily,  I  should  not  feel  humiliated,  in  your  place." 

Emily  looked  in  surprise  at  this  girl  who  saw  nothing 
to  be  ashamed  of  in  love,  and  met  a  gaze  of  modest  chastity. 
Together  they  sat  in  silence  as  the  night  advanced.  Then, 
as  though  awakening  from  a  trance,  Emily  said  (neither 
noted  whether  moments  or  hours  had  passed)  :  "  When  you 
came  to  me  this  evening,  to  bring  me  here,  I  was  terrified 
lest  something  had  happened  to  Gustav,  so  terrified  that 
I  was  nearly  out  of  my  senses.  But  when  I  heard  it  was 
for  Ewald  that  you  had  come,  I  wished  it  had  been  Gustav. 
Was  that  not  awful  of  me?  " 

"  Emily,  it's  because  you  long  for  him  so.  When  they 
are  ill  they  need 


CHAPTER  V 

FOREMAN  KOLSCH  walked  with  clouded  face  through 
the  factory,  up  to  the  office,  where  he  knew  he  would  find 
Frau  Wiskotten.  It  was  lunch  hour.  The  people  sat 
about  in  groups,  drank  out  of  tin  milk  cans  or  small  jugs, 
and  talked  in  hushed  tones.  In  Frau  Wiskotten's  realm 
things  were  still  more  subdued.  Here  one  voice  alone 
was  to  be  heard,  that  of  Frau  Wiskotten  reading  morning 
prayer.  The  book  lay  open  on  her  knee  at  the  One  Hun- 
dred and  Eighteenth  Psalm: 

"  '  Open  to  me  the  gates  of  righteousness :  I  will  go 
into  them  and  I  will  praise  the  Lord:  this  gate  of  the 
Lord,  into  which  the  righteous  shall  enter.  I  will  praise 
thee:  for  thou  hast  heard  me,  and  art  become  my  salva- 
tion. The  stone  which  the  builders  rejected  is  become 
the  head  of  the  corner.  This  is  the  Lord's  doing;  it  is 
marvelous  in  our  eyes.'  " 

"  Good  morning,  Frau  Wiskotten." 

She  looked  up  indignantly. 

"  Good  morning,  Kolsch ;  you  might  have  waited  till 
I  had  finished,  it  would  not  hurt  you  to  listen." 

"  I  have  something  to  say  to  you." 

"  You  should  first  give  honor  to  God.  Wait  one  mo- 
ment. I  will  come  with  you." 

"Frau  Wiskotten,"  said  Kolsch,  "please  don't  be 
angry  with  me.  I  think  there  should  be  a  change  here." 

"  If  the  change  be  a  wise  one,  I'll  have  nothing  against 
it." 

"  Frau  Wiskotten,  it  has  to  do  with  yourself." 
271 


272  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

"  With  me  ?  How  can  that  be  ?  It  seems  to  me  I  am 
getting  too  old  to  change." 

"  Quite  right,  Frau  Wiskotten,  but  there  are  others 
to  be  thought  of.  There  is  someone  who  cannot  endure 
things  as  they  are." 

"You  mean  Ewald.  I  can  guess  that,  Kolsch,  but  in 
the  One  Hundred  and  Nineteenth  Psalm  it  stands  written : 
*  Wherewithal  shall  a  young  man  cleanse  his  ways?  By 
taking  heed  thereto  according  to  thy  word.'  Now  is  his 
time  of  probation." 

"  I  might  answer,  Frau  Wiskotten,  in  the  words  you 
have  just  read:  'The  stone  which  the  builders  rejected 
is  become  the  head  of  the  corner.'  God's  words 
are  wonderful  and  it  ill  becomes  us  to  play  at  Provi- 
dence." 

"  Kolsch,  if  you  had  not  grown  old  in  our  service,  I 
should  be  very  angry  with  you." 

"  No,  Frau  Wiskotten,  I  know  you  better  than  to  think 
you  could  waste  time  that  way  when  we  have  important 
matters  to  arrange.  Frau  Wiskotten,  you  are  his  mother. 
Your  youngest  born,  Ewald,  was  found  in  a  garret,  lying 
on  a  straw  mattress,  half  starved.  A  Wiskotten  half 
starved ! " 

The  old  woman  stood  still.  She  laid  a  heavy  hand  on 
the  foreman's  arm,  gripping  the  sleeve  of  his  coat. 

"What?" 

"You  won't  quote  the  Bible  any  more  now,  will  you, 
Frau  Wiskotten?  Now  the  mother  in  you  will  have  the 
say.  Wasn't  I  sure  of  it?" 

"Is— is— he  well  again?" 

"  He  will  be  in  a  few  days.  Anna  came  home  last  night. 
She  and  Herr  Gustav's  wife  discovered  him." 

"She— Emily?" 

"  That  need  not  surprise  you.    Exiles  cling  together." 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  273 

"  Kolsch,  you  think  I  am  to  blame.  Please  don't  say 
things  like  that.  My  boy  ill,  among  strangers !  " 

"  They  were  not  exactly  strangers,  Frau  Wiskotten." 

"  No  ?  What  do  you  mean  ?  When  a  boy  is  ill  and  not 
with  his  mother  he  is  among  strangers." 

"  Well,  it's  for  the  mother  to  change  that." 

Frau  Wiskotten  looked  at  him.  Piercing  eyes  gleamed 
at  him  from  her  wrinkled  face.  Then,  loosening  his  sleeve, 
she  said :  "  Very  well,  Kolsch,  the  matter  shall  have  my 
attention." 

"  Good  morning,  then,  Frau  Wiskotten." 

Long  after  the  steps  of  the  foreman  had  died  away  in 
the  distance  she  stood  where  he  had  left  her,  gazing 
straight  in  front  of  her,  gazing  till  her  eyes  burned 
with  the  strain,  her  energetic  features  seemed  to 
weaken,  the  long,  clearly  marked  wrinkles  to  become 
limp. 

"  Oh,  God,"  she  murmured,  "  if  in  my  pride  I  have 
erred,  do  not  let  my  boy  suffer  for  it.  I  love  him,  just  as 
I  love  them  all."  In  the  private  office  she  found  her  sons 
busy  with  the  mail. 

"  Aha,  Mother !  Now  our  chimneys  will  smoke.  Brinck- 
mann  has  the  patterns  all  ready.  The  cards  are  being 
struck  now.  A  week  hence  William  can  start  on  his  trip. 
Oh,  what  a  time  we'll  have ! " 

"  And  Ewald " 

"Who?" 

"  Ewald,  will  his  chimney  smoke  ?  " 

"  You  ask  that  suddenly,  Mother?  " 

"  Yes,  I  ask  it,  for  none  of  you  seems  to  care." 

"  We  haven't  time  now,  Mother.  The  whole  factory  is 
at  stake." 

"  What  matter  the  whole,  if  the  individual  perish  ?  Why 
did  not  one  of  you  look  after  the  boy?  Why?  Why?  " 


274  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

"  But,  Mother,  you  yourself  did  not " 

"  Is  that  your  affair?  Not  at  all.  What  your  mother 
does  she  is  answerable  for,  and  what  you  do  you  are 
answerable  for;  you  are  all  old  enough." 

"  Heavens,  Mother,  what  a  sermon,  and  we've  nothing 
but  our  coffee  this  morning." 

"  No  one  cares  whether  Ewald  has  had  as  much." 

"  He'll  come  out  all  right,  Mother.  It  won't  hurt  his 
development  a  bit." 

"  To  be  found  half  starved  on  the  straw,  that  won't 
hurt  his  development,  either,  I  suppose.  If  you  were  not 
so  old,  I'd  box  your  ears  for  you." 

"Mother,  Ewald  is  ill?" 

"  Give  mother  a  chair,  Paul." 

With  stormy  face  the  mother  sat  in  the  office  chair, 
her  sons  around  her. 

"  To  leave  him  destitute  was  a  sin.  Now  the  boy  will 
have  to  pay  for  it." 

"  Mother,  he  refused  all  our  help." 

"  You  should  have  offered  him  love,  not  money.  A 
sensitive  boy  like  that  feels  the  difference.  But  we — we 
think  of  nothing  but  money  and  how  we  are  to  get  it. 
Even  Ewald's  patterns — as  to  paying  back — oh,  we  don't 
think  of  that!" 

"  Mother,  if  we  were  to  run  the  factory  on  those  lines, 
we  might  as  well  shut  up  shop  at  once." 

"  Then  shut  up  shop.  In  God's  name  shut  up  shop ! 
I  should  prefer  it.  Your  consciences  shall  not  be  buried 
under  a  loom ;  not  when  it  comes  to  my  boy." 

"  Donnerwetter,  Mother,  is  it  as  bad  as  that?  " 

The  face  of  the  old  woman  began  to  twitch  and  tremble. 
Her  sons  stood  round  her  awkwardly.  They  were  not 
used  to  caressing  their  mother.  They  laid  their  hands 
shyly  upon  her  shoulders. 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  275 

"  Mother,  see  here,  Mother.  We'll  make  it  all  right,  at 
whatever  cost." 

"  If  only  I  could,  I'd  go  to  Diisseldorf  and  bring  him 
back  with  me,"  said  the  old  lady,  wringing  her  hands, 
"  but  Father  must  hear  nothing  of  it.  He  has  worried 
enough  about  the  boy  in  secret.  No,  no,  not  a  word  to 
Father." 

Gustav  looked  at  the  clock.  "  I'll  go  over  this  after- 
noon." 

"  Let  me  come  too,"  said  Paul.  "  He  has  always  trusted 
me." 

"  Does  he  still  live  in  Rating  er  sir  asse?  Who  told  you 
about  it,  Mother?  " 

"  Whether  he  is  still  there,  you  must  ask  Anna  Kolsch. 
She  found  him — and — Emily  with  her." 

No  one  asked  any  further  questions.  Their  hands 
slipped  from  their  mother's  shoulders,  their  glances 
avoided  one  another.  They  all  waited  for  Gustav  to  speak. 
Seconds  passed.  At  last  came  Gustav's  voice : 

"Emily,  my  Emily?" 

Mother  and  son  looked  into  one  another's  eyes.  They 
had  fought  and  suffered  together.  They  had  nothing  to 
hide,  one  from  the  other. 

"  Do  you  know,  Gustav,  what  Albert  Kolsch  said  to  me 
just  now  about  it?  4  Exiles,'  said  he,  'stand  by  one  an- 
other.' " 

"  Paul  can  come  with  me,"  decided  Gustav,  after  a 
pause.  He  took  his  cap  from  the  window  ledge  and  pulled 
it  down  over  his  eyes.  "  Now  then,  to  work,  all  of  you !  " 

Silently  they  went  off  to  their  various  occupations. 

"  Mother,"  said  August,  who  had  remained  alone  with 
the  old  lady  in  the  office,  "go  to  Father  and  keep  him 
company.  Shall  I  send  for  Pastor  Schirrmacher,  so  that 
you  may  talk  it  over  with  him  ?  " 


276  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

Frau  Wiskotten  rose.  "  By  no  means,  August.  There 
are  cases  when  a  mother  can  best  advise  herself." 

August  frowned.  "  In  any  case,  I  will  go  to  Anna  and 
hear  more  particulars." 

"  That's  another  thing.  You  can  give  the  girl  my 
love." 

August  Wiskotten  finished  reading  the  mail.  When  it 
struck  eleven  he  took  his  hat  and  went  through  the  fac- 
tory looking  for  William  to  take  his  place  for  the  last 
hour.  By  the  Wupper  he  met  Kolsch,  who  was  counting 
the  men  as  they  came  out  of  the  dye  works. 

"  Not  many  men  as  yet  in  the  dye  works,  Herr  August, 
but  after  next  week  things  will  look  different.  Once 
Ewald's  patterns  are  on  the  looms  the  dyers  will  have 
their  work  cut  out  for  them." 

"  I  should  like  to  see  your  daughter,  Herr  Kolsch ;  you 
have  no  objection?  " 

"  The  girl's  old  enough  now  to  receive  visitors." 

"  Good.    I'll  see  you  later,  Kolsch." 

August  walked  off  in  a  businesslike  way  to  Kolsch's 
house,  rang,  and  was  admitted  by  Anna  herself. 

"  Good  morning,  Fraulein  Anna.  Your  father  gave  me 
permission  to  call." 

"  We  are  always  delighted  to  see  you,  Herr  August." 

He  sat  down  opposite  her,  looked  at  her  slim,  well- 
built  form,  the  heavy  braid  around  her  head,  then  beyond 
her  into  the  distance.  The  silence  was  oppressive. 

"  Is  it  about  Ewald  you  have  come,  Herr  August?  " 

"  Yes.  My  mother  sends  you  her  love.  For  her 
sake,  I  should  like  to  hear  further  particulars,  Fraulein 
Kolsch." 

"  When  I  left  Diisseldorf  yesterday  he  was  still  very 
weak  and  very  nervous.  His  weakness  he  will  soon  be 
over,  for  Emily  Wiskotten  is  nursing  him,  but  the  nerv- 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  277 

ousness  is  a  more  serious  matter.  There,  only  kindness 
and  patience  can  help." 

"  And  will  Emily  give  him  that?  " 

"  Men  don't  understand." 

"  And  you,  Fraulein  Anna,  do  you?  " 

"  I?     Oh,  yes,  I  am  helping  Frau  Emily !  " 

August  drew  his  finger  absent-mindedly  along  his  glove ; 
he  drew  down  his  eyebrows ;  he  was  thinking." 

"  Good  heavens ! "  thought  the  young  girl,  "  surely  he 
isn't  going  to  propose  again?  If  only  I  had  not  said  that 
about  a  woman's  kindness." 

"  Fraulein  Kolsch "  It  was  coming  now,  there 

was  no  escape. 

"  Yes,  Herr  August,"  very  low  and  meek. 

"  A  year  ago  I  asked  you  through  Pastor  Schirrmacher 
whether  you — you — you  know  what  I  mean." 

"  Yes,  I  know." 

"  I  made  a  great  mistake  then." 

"  Yes,  Herr  August ;  yes ;"  and  she  breathed  more 
freely. 

"  In  that  I  did  not  come  to  you  myself;  that  sort  of 
thing  should  be  done  in  person." 

Now  she  was  frightened  again.  Her  face  grew 
crimson. 

"  Now,  nothing  is  definitely  settled  between  us.  Per- 
haps, perhaps — it  is  possible — that  you  have  changed 
your  mind." 

She  took  her  courage  in  both  hands.  "  No,  Herr  Au- 
gust," she  said,  and  looked  at  him  with  wide,  clear  eyes. 

"  You  love  someone  else?  " 

"  Yes,"  she  answered,  shortly,  frowning. 

"  I  am  glad  to  hear  it,  Fraulein,  for  I  too  have  changed 
my  mind." 

She  looked  at  him  in  astonishment. 


278  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

"Changed  your  mind?"  Anger  gave  place  to  laugh- 
ter. "  But  why,  then,  did  you  ask  me?  " 

"  Because  I  felt  to  some  extent  bound  by  Pastor  Schirr- 
macher's  wooing.  In  serious  matters  like  this  there  must 
be  no  misunderstandings." 

"  Ah,  you  are  thinking  of  getting  married?  I  wish  you 
all  possible  happiness." 

"  Thank  you,"  said  August,  rising.  "  I  feel  that  I 
owe  you  something,  so  you  shall  be  the  first  to  hear  about 
it.  It  is  the  only  daughter  of  Pastor  Grossmann  of  Elber- 
feld." 

"  Ah,  then  I  congratulate  you  more  than  ever !  " 

"  Do  you  like  her,  then,  so  much?  " 

"  She  has  so  much  dignity,  and  I  have  none." 

"  That  will  come  in  time,"  said  August,  in  a  consoling 
tone,  and  held  out  his  hand.  Suddenly  he  wanted  to  get 
away.  The  amused  look  in  the  girl's  eyes  made  him  un- 
comfortable; again  he  looked  past  rather  than  at  her. 

"  You  owe  me  no  grudge  ?  " 

At  this  she  laughed  right  out.  "  No,  no,  no,  Herr 
August !  " 

He  took  his  leave  hastily,  finding  it  hard  to  resume  his 
businesslike  air. 

"  Really,"  said  the  girl,  as  she  came  back  to  the  room, 
"  really,  that  was  quite  the  coolest  thing  I've  ever  heard 
of." 

•     *     *     *     • 

Gustav  and  Paul  went  on  the  afternoon  train  to  Diissel' 
dorf.  At  the  station  they  took  a  cab  to  Ratingerstrasse. 

"  It  stinks  like  the  plague  here,"  said  Gustav,  in  the 
hall.  These  were  the  first  words  he  had  spoken  since  they 
had  set  out  on  their  journey.  They  climbed  up  the  stairs 
and  looked  for  the  widow's  room. 

"Paul?" 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  279 

"  Yes,  Gustav." 

"  Supposing — supposing — Emily  should  be  there.  I'll 
wait  for  you  here." 

"Won't  you  speak  to  her,  Gustav?" 

"  She  can  come  out  to  me." 

The  old  landlady  was  carrying  a  pail  of  dirty  water 
from  the  room. 

"Is  Herr  Wiskotten  at  home?" 

"  The  young  man  who  used  to  lodge  here?  " 

"  Used  to?    Doesn't  he  lodge  here  now?  " 

"  The  fine  lady  who  came  and  nursed  him  at  night,  she 
took  him  away  in  a  carriage." 

"  Was  he  quite  recovered?  " 

"  He  was  not  exactly  lively,  but  with  such  an  elegant 
lady  he'll  soon  be  all  right." 

"  Did  he  owe  you  anything?  " 

"  The  lady  paid  me  what  he  owed,  but  of  course  noth- 
ing for  all  the  anxiety  I  went  through " 

"  Give  her  a  thaler,  Paul." 

Down  the  stairs  they  stumbled.  "  Ugh,  let's  get  out 
into  the  fresh  air !  " 

"  To  think  that  Ewald  should  have  lived  in  that  hole. 
He's  a  hero !  " 

"  And  Emily,  two  days  and  two  nights.  I'd  rather 
spend  them  in  the  tavern  amid  fumes  of  tobacco  and 
brandy.  At  least  one  knows  what  one's  breathing." 

"  Gustav,  we  must  now  go  to  Aunt  Josephine's." 

"We?" 

"Yes,  Gustav;  we." 

Gustav  frowned.  Silently  he  strode  along  beside  his 
brother.  Presently  he  said,  curtly:  "Think!  In  that 
house  are  three  people  who  belong  to  me  who  should  be 
with  me  in  Barmen.  I  cannot  go  there." 

"  But  you  are  longing  for  them,"  said  the  other,  softly. 


280  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

"  I  will  stifle  that  yearning  in  the  end,  but  show  it 
when  she  does  not?  I  have  not  come  to  that  yet." 

"  Then  I  shall  go  alone.  When  and  where  shall  I  meet 
you?" 

"At  the  station  at  ten  o'clock.  I'll  find  out,  in  the 
meantime,  whether  Ewald  had  any  debts  in  the  neighbor- 
hood. Au  revoir!  "  They  separated. 

"  Here,  Paul." 

"What  is  it?" 

Gustav  came  back.  "  Be  sure  that  you  see  the  chil- 
dren. You  understand " 

Paul  grasped  his  hand.     "  Of  course,  of  course." 

Gustav  looked  round  vaguely.  What  should  he  do  all 
afternoon  and  evening?  There  was  nothing  new  to  see, 
he  knew  the  town  well.  He  turned  from  the  Alleestrasse 
to  the  Bolkerstrasse.  The  Zinters  lived  here.  Behind 
the  little  window  the  bottles  beckoned  with  their  green, 
red,  and  yellow  contents.  A  sign  in  the  window,  two 
long  Dutch  pipes  crossing,  announced  that  Hendrick 
Oldenkott's  tobacco  could  be  bought  inside. 

"  In  with  me  to  the  poison  shop." 

He  went  up  to  the  buffet,  his  hat  on  his  head. 

"  Are  you  Herr  Zinters  ?  " 

"  For  the  last  fifty  years  or  so  I  have  been  so  called." 

"  My  name  is  Wiskotten.  My  brother  Ewald  once 
lodged  here." 

"  What  is  that  you  say  ?  That  charming  youth  was 
your  brother?  Gretchen,  come  quickly.  This  gentleman 
is  the  brother  of  our  Herr  Wiskotten." 

Gretchen  came,  glancing  keenly  at  the  visitor,  curtsied, 
then  smiling  held  out  her  hand.  Gustav  removed  his 
hat. 

"  What  a  pity  the  boy  is  no  longer  here.  Why  did 
you  let  him  go?  " 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  281 

"  Oh,"  she  said,  hesitating,  "  he  was  so  pressing,  and 
he  was  much  too  young." 

Gustav  laughed,  amused.  "  You  put  more  trust  in  age, 
do  you?  " 

"  No,  the  old  ones  are  just  as  foolish  as  the  young  ones. 
I  prefer  middle-aged  men." 

"  To  which  category  do  I  belong,  pray?  " 

"  You  should  know  that  best  yourself.  Shall  I  bring 
you  some  of  our  gin  ?  " 

"  If  you  like.     I  hope  there's  no  poison  in  it." 

"Poison?"  broke  in  old  Zinters,  winking  knowingly. 
"  Where  the  Rhine  flows  into  the  Dutch  Sea  no  one  knows, 
not  even  an  old  sailor  like  me.  But  when  it's  a  question 
of  bringing  in  Dutch  gin  without  paying  duty  on  it,  then 
you  can  count  on  me." 

Gretchen  brought  in  the  glass  on  a  plate. 

"  Your  health ! "  She  curtsied  and  looked  up  at  him 
through  her  lashes. 

"  Won't  you  have  a  glass  too,  Herr  Zinters.  It's  poor 
sport  drinking  alone." 

"  Gretchen,  another  glass.  Most  kind  of  you,  Herr 
Wiskotten.  Won't  you  sit  down?  You'll  be  more  com- 
fortable. What  do  you  say?  The  girl  can  bring  in  the 
whole  bottle.  It's  there,  isn't  it,  Gretchen?  " 

Gustav  emptied  his  glass  at  a  draught.  "  Down  with 
all  our  troubles !  What  can  we  have  to  eat?  " 

"  Excellent  Dutch  cheese.  Bring  us  a  good  large  piece, 
Gretchen." 

Gretchen  disappeared  into  the  kitchen,  to  reappear  with 
a  red  ball  of  cheese.  Quickly  she  spread  a  cloth  over  the 
table,  brought  plates,  bread,  and  butter,  not  forgetting  to 
replace  the  "  Schnapps  "  bottle. 

"  That's  enough  for  a  whole  family,"  laughed  Gustav. 
"  What  do  you  say,  let's  all  sit  down  together?  " 


282  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

"  That's  all  right  with  me,  Hcrr  Wiskotten.  Cut  the 
bread  thin  and  the  cheese  thick,  Gretchen.  We're  'mong 
friends." 

Gustav  helped  himself.  The  presence  of  the  pretty 
girl  with  her  eager,  flattering  ways  was  pleasant  to  him. 

"  Your  eyes  are  as  black  as  coals,  Fraulein." 

"  That's  exactly  what  Ewald  used  to  say." 

"  It's  well  that  you  remember.  Herr  Zinters,  have  you 
anything  chalked  up  against  the  boy?  Well,  let's  have 
it  anyhow,  so  that  you  can  strike  it  off." 

The  landlord  rose,  felt  about  in  a  drawer,  and  drew 
out  a  big,  stiff  paper.  Gustav  glanced  over  it.  Its  length 
made  him  open  his  eyes.  At  that  moment  he  felt  the  touch 
of  a  warm  body  against  his  and  he  read  on  without  mani- 
festing his  surprise.  Gretchen  was  leaning  against  him, 
as  though  by  accident,  her  dark  head  against  his  shoulder, 
and  she  too  studied  the  bill. 

"We  made  no  charge  for  the  extra  service  we 
gave  him,  and  he  was  pretty  exacting — that  young 
man." 

"  Well,  well !    What  beautiful  black  hair  you  have." 

"  So  Ewald  thought." 

"  You  probably  turned  his  head  for  him." 

"  He  wanted  to  turn  mine." 

"  And  he  didn't  succeed." 

"  I  told  you  I  don't  care  about  young  men." 

"  Should  I  be  more  lucky?  " 

She  rubbed  her  shoulder  against  him  as  a  cat  rubs 
when  it  purrs.  Gustav  felt  a  warm  glow  run  through  him. 
He  threw  a  glance  at  the  total,  drew  out  his  pocket- 
book,  and  pushed  over  a  couple  of  bills  to  the  land- 
lord, who  had  been  busy  serving  another  customer. 
"  Here."  Zinters  took  the  bills  and  went  off  to  get  the 
change. 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  283 

"  I  won't  charge  any  interest — it  amounts  to  very  little, 
anyhow." 

The  customer  had  his  back  to  them ;  the  old  man  was 
counting  in  the  next  room.  She  bent  her  head  to  listen, 
then  stepped  hastily  forward  and  put  her  lips  to  his. 

"  There,  that's  enough,"  she  said.  "  I  see  you  are  a 
person  to  beware  of." 

He  pulled  her  to  him  again — such  a  sweet  little  creature. 

"  Don't  look  at  me  so  fiercely." 

"  I'm  not  fierce,  I'm  hungry.  I  should  like  to  eat 
you." 

"You  will  stay  a  while,  won't  you?  " 

"  If  you  want  me  to." 

She  stroked  his  face  first  up,  then  down.  "  That's  plush 
—and  that's  velvet." 

"  Little  flatterer,"  he  growled,  and  shook  her  gently. 

Old  Zinters  came  back.  Gustav  glanced  at  the  change, 
then  at  the  bill. 

"  There  should  be  another  five  marks." 

"Didn't  you  say  five  marks  for  the  service?  Pardon 
me,  I  thought  you  did."  He  felt  in  his  waistcoat  pocket. 
"  I  meant  no  harm,  Herr  Wiskotten ;  anyone  can  make  a 
mistake." 

"  There,  leave  it.  That's  all  right.  I  had  forgotten 
the  service."  The  landlord  brought  tobacco  and  new 
pipes.  The  men  sat,  elbows  on  the  table,  smoke  rising 
thick  around  them. 

"  We  might  have  a  game  of  skat.  Don't  you  think  so, 
Herr  Wiskotten?" 

"  We  need  a  third  man." 

"  It  might  be  a  woman.  Gretchen  plays  a  fair  game. 
Just  bring  in  the  cards,  girl.  Now  shuffle.  We  won't  play 
for  high  stakes,  just  a  penny  a  point.  I  can't  go  higher 
than  that,  even  with  Herr  Wiskotten." 


284  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

"Listen  to  him — penny  points.  One  can  lose  pretty 
heavily  at  that." 

"  Yes,  yes,  but  I  don't  intend  to  lose.     A  club." 

"Stop  a  minute,  I'm  not  ready  yet.  A  club?  You 
pass,  Fraulein  Gretchen?  So  do  I." 

The  game  began.  The  old  man  played  cautiously,  piling 
up  trick  on  trick.  Occasionally  Gretchen's  foot  touched 
Gustav's  under  the  table,  distracting  his  attention.  Pres- 
ently she  let  her  foot  rest  on  his  till  he  looked  up  at 
her,  laughing  over  his  cards.  She  answered  his  glance 
coquettishly. 

"  Atout,"  said  Zinters. 

"  How's  that?    Did  you  take  the  last  trick?  " 

"  You  should  pay  more  attention,"  answered  the  land- 
lord, carelessly. 

"  Excuse  me,"  said  Gustav,  reaching  over  and  turning 
the  last  trick.  "  Now  what  did  you  take  it  with?  " 

"  With  the  jack  of  hearts." 

"  But  that  looks  to  me  like  the  king." 

"  The  king?  The  king?  Dear  me,  where  are  my  eyes? 
Gretchen,  where  are  my  glasses?  "  The  play  contin- 
ued, Gustav  and  the  landlord  eying  one  another  distrust- 
fully. 

"  But,  Herr  Zinters,  you're  not  following  suit.  What 
the  dickens  do  you  think  we're  playing — old  maid?  " 

"  There,  now  !  "  cried  Gretchen,  sulkily.  "  You  men 
are  always  like  that.  We're  only  playing  for  pleasure." 
She  gave  Gustav's  sleeve  a  little  tug  and  glanced  at  him 

slyly. 

After  that  he  let  the  old  man  play  as  he  liked.  This 
secret  understanding  with  a  dashing,  caressing  girl  was 
great  fun.  The  tobacco  smoke  rose,  the  glasses  of  brandy 
were  emptied  and  refilled.  Now  and  then  the  landlord 
rose  to  wait  on  some  customer.  Each  time  he  took  the 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  285 

scoring  block  with  him.  Gretchen  moved  nearer  to 
Gustav. 

"  Let  him  have  his  little  pleasure.     I'm  so  happy." 

"Because  I'm  here,  puss?" 

"  I  ought  not  to  say  yes.    I  shall  make  you  conceited." 

"  That  would  not  hurt  me.  Here,  kiss  me  again  quickly, 
your  father  is  not  looking." 

His  blood  raced  through  his  veins.  He  was  not  used 
to  caresses.  The  smell  of  the  spirit,  the  fumes  of  tobacco, 
the  seductively  enticing  black  eyes  of  the  girl,  glowing  like 
ripe  blackberries,  excited  him.  He  held  out  his  arms 
again,  "  Come,  girl !  " 

"  Is  it  true  that  you  have  three  hundred  men  working 
in  your  factory?  " 

"  Perhaps  even  more  than  that." 

"  What  kind  of  things  do  you  make?  " 

"  Trimmings,  ribbons,  laces." 

"  Oh,  dear,  if  only  I  could  see  all  that !  " 

"Shall  I  take  you  back  with  me?" 

"  You  don't  mean  that,  but  you  might  send  me  a 
parcel." 

"And  what  should  I  get  in  return?  Well,  are  we  to 
see  one  another  again?  " 

"  Yes,  yes,  only  no  one  must  know — just  we  two." 

"  I  might — perhaps — give  you  a  kiss  for  it  now." 

"  You  little  villain,  you,  what  a  nice,  soft,  warm  little 
thing  you  are !  " 

"  Do  you  know  what  I  should  like  best  of  all?  " 

She  looked  at  him,  pleading,  like  a  child. 

"  Anything  I  can  give  you  ?  " 

"  If  you  wanted  to,  you  could  help.  I  want  to  go  on 
the  stage." 

"  Oh,  indeed !  It  seems  to  me  that  you  have  some  lean- 
ings that  way." 


286  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

"  I  should  act  for  you,  just  for  you." 

"  Oh,  you  would,  would  you  ?  "  he  answered,  stretching 
his  legs,  comfortably  yielding  to  the  unusual  mood  which 
possessed  him.  "  And  what  should  I  have  to  do?  " 

"  Pay  for  my  lessons,"  she  answered,  quickly. 

"And  then  off  you'd  go?" 

"  You  know  better  than  that.  There's  no  one  like  you 
in  all  the  world.  You're  so  strong." 

"Shall  I  pick  you  up  with  one  finger?"  Chuckling, 
he  held  out  his  clenched  fists  for  her  inspection. 

She  bent  swiftly  and  kissed  them.  "  I'll  come  to  Bar- 
men." 

The  touch  of  the  girl's  lips  on  his  hands  fired  him.  He 
was  filled  with  the  joy  of  life,  with  contempt  for  the 
world  and  its  stupid  codes.  He  seized  his  glass  and 
emptied  it.  His  hand  closed  tightly  over  the  girl's,  his 
eyes  burned. 

"  Right ;  then  we'll  talk  over  the  stage." 

The  room  grew  empty,  old  Zinters  saw  his  last  cus- 
tomer to  the  door,  and  came  back  rubbing  his  hands, 
ready  to  go  on  with  the  game.  Gustav  looked  at  the 
clock. 

"  What's  that  ?  Half-past  eleven  ?  That  can't  be  right ; 
nearly  half -past  eleven " 

"  We  are  just  beginning  to  be  comfortable  now,  Herr 
Wiskotten." 

But  Gustav  insisted,  demanded  his  bill.  "  I  must  go 
at  once  to  the  station."  Cap  over  his  eyes,  sleeves  rolled 
up,  pipe  between  his  teeth,  the  old  sailor  added  the  score. 
Gustav  owed  him  about  twenty  marks. 

"  Where  can  I  get  a  carriage?  " 

"  Here  at  the  corner  in  the  market  square.  Gretchen, 
show  Herr  Wiskotten  the  way." 

"  Good-by,  then !  " 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  287 

"  Very  pleased  to  have  met  you,  sir.  I  hope  you  will 
come  again." 

From  the  doorstep  Gretchen  showed  him  the  cabstand. 
The  night  was  dark.  Suddenly  Gustav  felt  two  arms  glide 
like  soft  snakes  round  his  neck  and  her  eager  lips  met 
his. 

"  You  will  write,  won't  you?    You  won't  forget  me?  " 

He  reached  the  station  just  as  the  last  express  train 
was  about  to  start.  Paul  rushed  excitedly  to  meet  him. 

"  Where  in  the  world  have  you  been,  Gustav?  I've  been 
waiting  here  for  hours.  Has  anything  happened?  " 

"  Nothing  unpleasant,"  laughed  Gustav,  airily. 

"  Get  in  quickly ;  the  train's  about  to  start." 

Gustav  began  to  whistle,  then  stopped  and  asked, 
"How  about  Ewald?" 

"  I've  been  with  him  all  evening.  It  was  a  pity  you 
did  not  come  too.  He  is  recovering  rapidly,  only  slightly 
nervous  still,  but  that  won't  last  long.  It  couldn't  in 
that  atmosphere.  Imagine  the  scene.  He  lies  on  a  sofa 
in  the  drawing  room,  upholstered  in  red  velvet  furniture, 
curtains,  and  covers.  On  the  table  a  tall  reading  lamp, 
with  softened  light.  Only  one  white  thing  in  the  room. 
Emily  in  a  long  white  dress." 
.  "On  week  days?" 

"  Yes,  and  her  movements  are  restfulness  itself.  They 
soothe  Ewald  as  much  as  her  voice,  which  is  quiet  and  kind. 
The  true  nurse's  voice.  I  should  not  mind  being  ill  my- 
self with  her  to  nurse  me.  There  is  such  a  quiet  sim- 
plicity about  it  all.  One  couldn't  help  getting  well.  Later 
the  children  came  in " 

"The  children?"  Gustav  sat  up  hastily.  "How  did 
they  look  and  did  they  ask  for  me?  " 

"  Little  Gustav  had  on  a  sailor  suit.  Now  he  has  seen 
the  Rhine,  he  wants  to  be  an  admiral.  Little  Emily  had  on 


288  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

a  white  dress  with  a  red  sash  and  called  out,  '  Papa,'  when 
she  saw  me.  When  she  found  out  her  mistake  the  poor 
little  thing  began  to  cry." 

Gustav  bit  his  lips ;  with  a  heavy  gesture  he  pulled  out 
his  handkerchief  and  wiped  his  mustache. 

"  And  all  that  time  I  was  drinking  gin,"  he  said, 
harshly. 

He  let  the  window  down  and  leaned  out.  The  dark  land- 
scape flew  past  and  the  wind  blew  through  his  hair.  He 
listened:  was  that  his  little  girl  crying?  And  his  son — 
his  son  wanted  to  be  an  admiral.  And  Emily  was  wear- 
ing a  long  white  dress.  There  was  a  bad  taste  in  his 
mouth — the  gin  he  had  drunk  in  the  tavern.  .  .  . 


CHAPTER  VI 

EWALD  WISKOTTEN  lay  on  the  sofa  in  the  redroom — 
the  one  that  Paul  had  described  so  glowingly  to  Gustav 
on  their  homeward  journey — and  gazed  at  the  ceiling. 
For  a  whole,  long — yes,  a  seemingly  endless — year  he  had 
lived  in  anxiety  and  fear,  not  knowing  from  one  day  to 
the  next  if  he  were  to  find  food,  shelter,  rest.  Now  for 
the  first  time  he  felt  safe,  sheltered,  protected.  How  good 
it  was  not  even  to  think!  Just  to  enjoy  the  present  mo- 
ment. In  the  future  he  should  always  look  back  on  this 
as  an  oasis  of  rest  and  peace. 

In  the  next  room  he  heard  Emily  serving  breakfast  and 
the  voices  of  the  children  as  they  chattered  over  their 
cocoa. 

"  Gustav !  "  called  Ewald,  coaxingly.     "  Milly  !  " 

"  Uncle  Ewald  !  "  answered  the  two  childish  voices.  Two 
chairs  scraped  the  floor,  little  feet  pattered  across  the 
floor.  There  was  a  thumping  at  the  door,  and  the  chil- 
dren hurled  themselves  on  the  sofa. 

"  I  was  first,  uncle  !  " 

"  But  I  kissed  him  first !  " 

"  Pshaw,  boys  don't  kiss." 

"  Mamma,  Mamma !  Gustav's  pushing  me.  Get  away, 
you  horrid  boy." 

"You're  a  dirty  little  girl;  your  face  is  all  covered 
with  cocoa." 

"  Well,  you  made  finger-marks  on  the  tablecloth. 
Shame  on  you  !  " 

Emily  came  in  smiling.  "  Good  morning,  Ewald.  Did 
you  sleep  well  ?  " 

289 


290  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

Then  she  grasped  each  of  the  noisy  children  by  the 
shoulder.  "  You  dirty  little  monkeys,  out  with  you !  Go 
and  wash  your  faces.  Aunt  Josephine  is  going  shopping ; 
if  you're  clean,  she  may  take  you  along." 

"Hold  that  pose  a  minute,  Emily!"  cried  Ewald. 
"  You've  given  me  an  idea." 

"  Are  you  going  to  make  studies  of  my  '  type  '  ?  Per- 
haps I  might  earn  a  living  as  a  model,  if  I  had  to." 

"  Neither  Feuerbach  nor  Makart  had  so  fine  a  model, 
I  can  tell  you,  and  they  were  connoisseurs." 

"  Why,  Ewald — I  think  your  illness  has  improved 
you." 

"  Anyway,  I'd  not  advise  either  of  those  artists  to  use 
you  for  a  model." 

"What!    Jealous?" 

"No;  I  was  thinking  of  Gustav's  fists.  It's  no  joke 
to  have  him  lay  hold  of  you;  my  shoulder's  sore  yet. 
There,  don't  move ;  turn  your  face  this  way  a  little  more." 

"  What  are  you  driving  at,  you  queer  boy  ?  " 

"  I'm  trying  a  dress  on  you  mentally.  No,  really  I'm 
creating  one  for  your  '  type ' — a  sort  of  dressing  gown 
for  house  wear." 

"  Dressing  gown  ?     That  sounds  sleazy." 

"  Not  this  kind.  It  would  be  the  stay-at-home  sister  of 
your  street  dress  and  your  party  dress.  It's  really  quite 
as  important  to  be  beautiful  at  home  as  out  in  company. 
That  would  make  the  husbands  '  take  notice.'  " 

"Husbands?" 

"  Yes,  indeed.  Don't  they  turn  to  other  women  because 
they  are  more  attractive?  And  why?  Because  they  are 
always  dressed  becomingly  for  such  rendezvous,  while  the 
economical  wives  appear  in  the  same  shabby  things  at 
home.  'Wearing  them  out  when  there's  no  company  to 
see.'  How  about  the  husbands?  Men  crave  something 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  291 

new,  attractive,  like  the  usual  *  eternally  feminine,'  and 
when  the  wives  don't  satisfy  that  desire  the  husbands  think 
those  attractions  are  not  to  be  found  at  home.  The  really 
important  thing  for  a  wife  to  do  is  always  to  appear  beau- 
tiful and  attractive  to  her  own  husband." 

"  Ewald !     One  might  think  you  were  speaking  from 
experience." 

"  My  art  gives  me  the  insight." 
"  Then  you  advise  us  to  be  extravagant  at  home?  " 
"  I  did  not  say  that.  To  keep  your  husband  you  must 
compete  with  those  others  who  make  a  business  of  being 
attractive.  A  little  intelligent  thought  about  the  style  of 
your  own  house  dresses,  a  change  from  this  shabby  mo- 
notony, would  work  wonders.  Make  the  most  of  your 
natural  attractions,  aim  to  appear  more  attractive  to  your 
husband  than  any  possible  rival — at  all  times.  A  little 
coquetry  is  not  to  be  disdained.  Think  of  yourself  as  his 
sweetheart,  a  source  of  continual  wonder,  pride,  and  de- 
sire. It  really  seems  to  me,  Emily,  that  a  man  always 
accepts  his  wife  at  the  face  value  she  puts  on  herself. 
If  she  dresses  like  a  scarecrow,  he'll  treat  her  like  one.  If 
she  runs  to  meet  him,  laughing  like  a  girl  sweetheart,  he 
loves  and  babies  her.  She  has  only  to  sweep  through  life 
like  a  young  queen  and  he  falls  on  his  knees,  breathless 
to  serve  her.  Above  all,  avoid  this  deadly  monotony  in 
moods  and  dress.  Wear  a  lace  collar  to-day;  to-morrow, 
something  open  at  the  neck  to  give  a  glimpse  of  soft 
throat  curves.  Now  let's  plan  that  dress." 
"  I  must  confess  you've  made  me  curious." 
"  I  have  it  now.  It  is  to  be  white.  The  neck  must  be 
square,  not  too  low.  It  must  fall  in  classical  *  Empire ' 
fashion.  Round  the  opening,  bands  of  dull  blue  patterned 
with  lilies  or  half-toned  tulips,  a  deeper  border  of  this  on 
the  skirt.  My !  but  that  would  become  you,  and  that  would 


292  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

be  a  pattern,  a  really  new  pattern,  for  the  looms  of  the 
Wiskotten  factory." 

"  So  that's  your  idea.  You're  a  true  Wiskotten,  too ; 
always  harking  back  to  the  factory." 

"  No,  not  always,  but  it  is  high  time  that  someone  of 
the  firm  of  Gustav  Wiskotten  &  Sons  infused  a  little  artis- 
tic taste  into  the  things  manufactured  by  us.  These 
eternal  repetitions  of  dots,  bars,  and  stripes  are  silly  and 
childish.  But  just  now  it  was  the  home  and  its  claim 
to  beauty  that  I  was  thinking  of.  The  average  man  spends 
most  of  his  real,  free  life  in  his  home,  and  so  everything 
in  the  house  should  be  chosen  for  its  beauty,  to  please 
and  attract  him.  Do  you  know  what  I  should  like, 
Emily?" 

"  Go  on — you  extraordinary  and  visionary  youth !  " 

"You  promise  not  to  get  angry?  Remember,  I'm  still 
an  invalid." 

"  I  don't  believe  you'd  really  say  anything  unforgiv- 
able." 

"  No ;  I  only  want  to  tell  my  ideas  about — underwear 
— petticoats,  all  those  things,  you  know." 

"  Really,  Ewald,  that  is  beyond  your  province.  You 
don't  know  a  thing  about  all  that." 

"  No,  I  don't,  but  my  art  does." 

"  You  would  please  me  better  if  you  kept  to  your  pic- 
tures." 

"  Now  that  I've  started  to  invent  patterns,  I'm  not  at 
all  sure  that  there  is  more  scope  for  an  artist  in  paint- 
ing. Here  is  an  art  in  its  beginning.  Why  not  study 
it  from  the  higher  standpoint  we  reserve  for  the  older 
ones?  Well,  then,  what  do  women  wear  under  their 
dresses?  Of  course  we  don't  see  them,  but  in  true  art 
each  thing  should  be,  has  need  to  be,  beautiful  in  itself. 
And  you — yes,  you — should  be  as  beautiful  in  a  simple 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  293 

negligee,  if  not  more  beautiful,  than  in  your  most  ex- 
pensive ball  gown.  For  in  the  ball  gown  you  are  only 
one  in  a  throng  of  indifferent  strangers,  but  in  the  other 
you  must  satisfy  the  eyes  of  one  alone.  I  am  going  to 
design  the  most  wonderful  insertions,  edgings,  and  medal- 
lions for  underwear;  I  shall  tax  my  inventive  faculties  to 
their  limits.  They  must  supplement  and  complete  my 
revolution  in  dress  trimmings.  Just  wait  and  see,  this  idea 
of  mine  is  going  to  put  an  end  to  all  unhappy  marriages." 

"  Ewald,  you're  a  perfect  baby !  I  don't  see  why  I 
stop  and  listen  to  all  this  foolishness." 

"  Emily,  I  tell  you  that  t his  will  solve  the  *  social  evil » 
question." 

She  bent  to  shake  and  smooth  his  pillows,  stroking 
his  flushed  cheeks  as  she  finished.  He  turned  his  head 
quickly  and  gave  the  hand  an  ardent  kiss. 

"  Foolish  child,"  she  murmured,  but  the  hand  rested  on 
his  pillow  for  a  moment  longer.  The  caress  had  awak- 
ened something  that  had  long  lain  dormant  in  her,  a 
natural  yearning  (that  she  had  been  so  falsely  taught  to 
hold  unnatural),  the  yearning  felt  by  all  women  for 
glances,  caresses,  that  tell  them  of  their  beauty  in  men's 
eyes.  This  boy  thought  her  beautiful,  rejoiced  to  find 
her  so.  How  earnestly  he  had  spoken  of  that  cult  of 
beauty,  of  how  she  might  give  pleasure  to  her  husband, 

and Her  cheek  flushed,  but  in  her  innermost  heart 

she  was  forced  to  admit — and  to  herself. 

"  Emily ! " 

She  started,  guiltily,  as  if  caught  in  a  misdeed.  "  Yes, 
Ewald." 

"  It's  high  time  I  got  up.  I'm  wasting  time  here  and 
letting  myself  be  waited  on  like  a  baby." 

"  I  enjoy  taking  care  of  you,  Ewald." 

"You  have  been  so  good  to  me — but  I  don't  under- 


294  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

stand — you  are  so  different — you  were  not  like  this  in 
Barmen." 

"  You  have  changed  too." 

"Yes,  we've  both  had  a  chance  to  grow  and  develop. 
When  one  gets  away  from  the  things  he  has  been  brought 
up  to  believe  in  he  has  a  chance  to  judge  them.  The  laws 
our  parents  thought  infallible  may  not  suit  us  at  all." 

"  Ewald,  you  should  have  been  a  preacher,  after  all." 

"  No,  this  all  comes  of  lying  here  so  long.  I  shall  get 
up  this  noon." 

"  Very  well,  but  you  must  promise  me  that  you'll  not 
run  away." 

"  No,  indeed ;  I  promise  you  I'll  not  do  that,"  he  an- 
swered, readily. 

"Do  you  think — that — that — Paul  will  come  back?  " 

"  Certainly,  next  Sunday,  without  fail.  He's  a  splendid 
fellow.  You  should  have  seen  him  sitting  on  my  bed, 
while  I  told  him  all  my  new  ideas  for  patterns.  He's  the 
manufacturer  of  the  future.  Once  I  laughed  at  him  when 
he  tried  to  explain  the  need  of  artistic  feelings  in  factory 
owners,  as  well  as  painters  and  poets.  Now  I  understand 
better  and  see  how  each  needs  the  other,  if  both  are  to 
succeed." 

"Is  there  anything  of  the  artist  in — Gustav?" 

"  He  is  the  force  that  makes  the  expression  of  much 
art  possible,  the  greatest  of  '  work  artists.'  Without  him 
the  most  finished  of  my  patterns  would  be  futile." 

"  Do  you  know  why  he  did  not  visit  you  yesterday  ?  " 

"  Paul  said  he  had  gone  to  Zinters'  to  pay  my  debts. 
At  first  I  was  furious  at  his  interference,  but  when  I  heard 
that  they  were  using  my  patterns  in  the  factory  that  set 
things  right.  Besides " 

"Besides  what?" 

He  gave  a  shy,  boyish  laugh.     "  Oh,  nothing !     Only 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  295 

I'm  glad  that  the  Zinters  have  seen  Gustav.  He'll  make 
them  respect  the  name  of  Wiskotten,  especially  that  little, 
black  pussy  cat."  His  face  hardened. 

"What  little  pussy  cat?" 

"  Gretchen  Zinters.  I  don't  care  to  speat  of  her. 
Emily,  dear,  don't  mention  her  to  Anna  Kolsch.  I  do  not 
like  to  be  laughed  at,  least  of  all  by  her." 

"  Were  you  in  love  with  Gretchen,  then?  " 

"  She's  a  sly,  calculating  creature.  She  wants  to 
play  the  fine  lady  and  I  was  completely  taken  in  by 
her."  He  squirmed  among  his  pillows  at  the  humiliating 
memory : 

"  So  she  refused  you?  " 

He  flushed  furiously.  "  Refused  ?  When  a  girl  lets  you 
kiss  her  all  you  want  and  then  suddenly  says,  '  Thank  you, 
that's  enough ;  here's  someone  with  more  money  than 
you,'  you  can  hardly  call  that  a  refusal." 

"  So  that's  the  sort  of  thing  you  do,  my  boy,"  said 
Emily.  "  I  really  ought  not  to  trust  myself  with  you." 
But  she  drew  up  a  chair  by  the  sofa  and  sat  down.  "  You 
think,  then,  that  Gustav  can  restore  her  to  a  proper  re- 
spect for  the  Wiskotten  family?" 

"  I  hope  so." 

"  But  suppose  she  tries  to  flirt  with  him — would  she 
dare?" 

"  She'd  try  to  start  a  flirtation  with  the  Pope  himself." 

"  Gustav  is  not  quite  as  holy  as  the  Pope,"  she  said, 
with  a  smile  that  ended  in  a  frown. 

"  No,  but  he's  Gustav  Wiskotten." 

"  Does  that  mean  he's  above  all  human  follies  ?  " 

"  He  is  human  enough,  but  his  follies  are  so  few  that 
they  are  lost  among  his  splendid,  strong  virtues." 

"But  suppose  she  kisses  him  too?  He  may  have  been 
drinking  a  little " 


296  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

"  Well,  then,  he  can  rinse  his  mouth  out  when  he  gets 
home." 

"Is  that  so  easily  done?" 

"  Such  things  don't  even  count.  Just  think  how  furi- 
ous he  was  when  he  found  me  among  those  day  laborers. 
He  thought  I  might  have  lowered  my  standards.  Never 
fear,  Gustav  will  not  put  us  to  shame.  He  drinks  and 
fights  like  the  strong  man  he  is — uses  his  fists  as  he  did 
that  day  at  the  factory — but  afterward  it's  all  forgotten 
and  he  goes  about  with  his  head  in  the  air,  at  peace  with 
himself  and  all  the  rest  of  us." 

She  sat  in  pensive  silence.  No  one  had  ever  spoken 
to  her  like  this  before.  Here  was  this  dear  boy,  Ewald, 
young  as  he  was,  he  had  already  had  his  adventures.  Yet 
they  seemingly  left  him  as  clean  and  unabashed  as  ever. 
Must  all  youths  tread  this  path  to  knowledge — was  it  in- 
evitable? Necessary  to  their  development,  a  period  of 
piracy  which  meant  larger  strength?  She  seemed  to  rec- 
ognize and  understand  all  this  now  for  the  first  time  in 
Ewald.  But  in  Gustav?  Her  conventional  education  in 
Barmen  had  made  youth  and  all  its  thought  something 
to  be  feared  and  striven  against.  How  could  she  under- 
stand, then?  And  Gustav  had  been  so  little  older  than  this 
boy  here  on  their  wedding  day.  And  since  then — year  in 
and  year  out — she  had  denied,  condemned  his  natural  de- 
sires. What  wonder  if  his  hungry  eyes  had  turned  to 
other  and  more  gracious  women.  Had  his  been  the  greater 
fault  or  hers?  She  recalled  Ewald's  words:  "His  follies 
are  so  few  that  they  are  lost  among  his  splendid,  strong 
virtues."  That  was  the  point  of  view  she  had  failed  to 
take.  She  had  seen,  looked  for  nothing,  but  the  faults ; 
now  she  strove  to  remember  them,  these  failings  that  had 
so  often  angered  her — she  could  name  none.  But  the  man 
himself  stood  before  her  in  all  his  strength  and  energy, 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  297 

a  man  who  had  the  will,  the  stiff-necked  pride,  to  carry  out 
the  plans  he  made  and  make  a  broad,  easy  path  in  life 
for  all  those  under  his  protection.  A  slow,  painful  flush 
mounted  to  her  forehead  as  she  realized  by  what  pigmy 
standards  she  had  measured  and  condemned  this  great, 
generous  man.  She  shivered,  as  one  who  has  just  passed 
over  a  dangerous  morass  in  safety.  It  was  not  too  late, 
but  her  blind  folly  had  cost  them  both  six  precious  months 
of  youth  and  love  together. 

"Emily!" 

Ewald's  voice  recalled  her  to  the  present. 

"  Yes,  Ewald."  She  passed  a  hand  across  her  fore- 
head to  dismiss  these  harassing  thoughts. 

"  Remember,  I  have  your  promise  not  to  say  a  word  to 
Anna." 

She  rose  and  stroked  his  hair  with  a  gesture  of 
womanly  tenderness.  The  old  Emily  could  not  have  done 
this,  even  to  her  husband. 

"  Do  you  dislike  her  so?  " 

"  Dislike  her?  No,  but  there  is  something  in  her  eyes 
I'm  afraid  of." 

"What?" 

"  A  something  so  virginal." 

"  Why,  Ewald,  you  should  be  ashamed  of  yourself !  " 

"  Now,  why  should  that  shock  you?  I  meant  no  irrev- 
erence. I  was  not  comparing  her  to  the  Blessed  Virgin 
of  the  Catholics.  Thank  Heaven !  she's  no  nun,  either ; 
they're  not  to  my  taste.  When  I  said  '  virginal '  I  meant 
something  chaste,  pure,  noble.  An  atmosphere  of  joyous 
peace  and  ready  self-sacrifice.  Such  a  soul  remains  maiden 
to  the  end,  despite  husband  and  children." 

"And  is  that  what  you  fear?"  said  Emily,  astonished 
at  this  new  proof  of  the  lad's  insight  into  life. 

"  I  always  feel  so  soiled  beside  her — like  a  naughty, 


298  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

little  boy  who  splashes  about  in  a  mud  puddle,  covering 
himself,  and  the  little  girl's  white  frock  as  well,  with  dirt. 
A  man  should  never  feel  so  in  the  presence  of  a  woman — 
it's  not  fitting." 

"  Then  change  it.  It  all  depends  on  the  'man.'  A  real 
man  should  be  generous  enough  to  acknowledge  himself 

in  the  wrong." 

•     *     *     *     • 

At  noon  Ewald  demanded  his  clothes.  "  I'm  no  grande 
dame  of  the  French  court,  to  hold  a  levee  in  my  bedroom. 
I  want  my  clothes." 

"  They're  shabby  enough,  for  all  that  fuss." 

"  After  lunch  I'll  buy  some  ready-made  ones." 

"  Have  you  any  money?  " 

"  No,  but  you  have.  I'm  not  the  least  ashamed  to  take 
it,  either." 

Emily  laughed.  "  Is  that  another  of  your  compli- 
ments?" 

"Yes,  indeed;  I'm  very  particular  about  the  people  I 
borrow  money  from." 

"  To  make  sure  they'll  not  ask  it  back?  I'll  do  my  best 
to  live  up  to  your  expectations." 

At  the  table  Ewald  sat  between  the  children,  who  talked 
to  him  excitedly  about  the  Rhine.  He  ate  heartily  and 
joined  in  their  chatter,  until  he  noticed  the  old  aunt's  eyes 
scrutinizing  his  shabby  clothing,  and  then  he  fell  a  prey 
to  embarrassment.  A  visit  to  the  clothing  shop  that  after- 
noon restored  his  youthful  pride  in  his  appearance,  and 
he  emerged  in  a  blue  cheviot  suit,  black  hat,  and  highly 
polished  shoes.  Eager  to  present  himself  before  those 
critical  old  eyes,  without  taking  as  much  as  a  stroll 
through  the  city,  he  hurried  back  to  the  house  in  the 
Gartenstrasse.  Here  he  found  Emily  in  the  parlor  with 
Anna  Kolsch,  who  had  just  arrived. 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  299 

His  first  impulse  was  to  turn  and  run,  but  they  had 
already  seen  him,  so  he  pulled  himself  together,  marched 
resolutely  across  the  room,  and  made  the  young  girl  the 
most  formal  of  bows. 

"  You  look  fine,  Ewald !  "  said  Emily,  by  way  of  en- 
couragement, and  left  them  to  see  about  their  afternoon 
coffee. 

Ewald  stood  by  the  window  and  looked  out  into  the 
garden,  where  the  first  buds  were  showing  on  the  hedges 
and  bushes.  One  lilac  seemed  impatient  to  burst  into 
bloom,  and  on  this  he  fixed  his  embarrassed  gaze.  Mean- 
while, Anna  sat  in  state  in  the  red  armchair,  with  eyelids 
demurely  lowered. 

"  You  must  still  be  very  weak,  Ewald?  " 

"Why?" 

"  Because  talking  seems  too  much  of  an  effort  for  you." 

"  When  a  fellow's  been  in  bed  so  long  he  has  nothing 
new  to  talk  about." 

"  You  were  friendlier  in  the  little  room  in  Ratinger- 
strasse" 

"  Have  you  come  here  just  to  poke  fun  at  me?  " 

"  What  makes  you  think  that?  " 

"  Well,  anyway,  I  want  to  tell  you  that  it  was  very 
kind  of  you  to  hunt  me  up  there,  but  it  was  not  proper, 
not  at  all  proper,  for  you  to  stay  there  all  night." 

"  That's  really  too  much,  Ewald !  Reading  me  a  ser- 
mon by  way  of  thanks." 

"  Since  you  do  not  seem  to  be  able  to  see  such  things, 
and  there  is  no  one  else  here  to  tell  you  but  myself." 

"  You?  What  right  have  you  to  regulate  my  conduct — 
since  when  ?  " 

"  I  am  the  older  of  us  two,  and  the  man.  That  suf- 
fices." 

"  Ewald,  you  are  perfectly  ridiculous  !  " 


300  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

He  turned  and  faced  her. 

"  You  cannot  use  that  tone  with  me ! " 

"  Nor  you  with  me !  " 

"  Girl,  don't  answer  me  like  that.  It  is  your  place  to 
be  silent." 

"  Just  look  at  this  mighty  Herr  Wiskotten !  He's  two 
years  older  than  I,  and  six  years  sillier." 

"  I  shall  not  stoop  to  quarrel  with  you." 

"  You're  right.  I've  been  very  silly  to  have  anything 
to  do  with  you ! " 

"  No  one  asked  you  to.  You  came  of  your  own  ac- 
cord." 

"  You  are  a — a "  Words  failed  her,  and  she  stalked 

out  of  the  room. 

"  Pshaw !  "  he  said,  with  an  attempt  at  ease,  but  he 
was  distinctly  unhappy.  That  lilac  bush  out  there  in  the 
garden  was  a  stupid  thing  to  look  at.  He  shifted  uneasily 
from  one  foot  to  the  other,  and  glanced  apprehensively 
at  the  door.  He  felt  as  if  it  must  open  and — as  had 
so  often  happened  in  his  childhood — his  mother  appear 
to  scold  him  for  a  fault  that  had  just  been  committed. 
Now,  at  least,  he  would  have  welcomed  such  an  inter- 
ruption to  his  uncomfortable  thoughts. 

Instead,  the  children  stormed  in  to  tell  him  coffee  was 
waiting.  Now  he  must  compose  himself  for  the  ordeal, 
like  a  guilty  prisoner  about  to  face  judge  and  jury.  The 
carpet  over  which  he  walked  seemed  to  roll  in  waves  like 
the  sea.  With  the  courage  of  a  drowning  man  he  raised 
his  eyes.  Why  did  they  prolong  his  agony  so?  Had  not 
these  two  women  yet  formed  a  concerted  plan  of  attack 
on  this  one  hapless,  offending  male?  Why  did  they  smile 
at  him  so  kindly? — 

"  If  you  please,  Ewald,  sit  here  by — Anna." 

Distrustfully  he  took  his  place.     His  nervous  fingers 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  301 

crumbled  the  bread  Emily  had  just  buttered  for  him. 
Still  no  accusation!  Had  Anna,  after  all,  said  nothing? 
— He  risked  a  sidelong  glance  and  was  met  by  a  smile. 

"Does  it  taste  good?  Then  you're  really  all  right 
again."  His  throat  contracted  spasmodically.  He  choked 
over  a  morsel  and  reached  desperately  for  his  coffee  cup. 

"  Something's  gone  down  uncle's  Sunday  throat,"  jeered 
the  children.  "  Uncle  ate  too  fast.  Oho !  " 

"Will  you  behave?"  commanded  Emily.  "Have  you 
forgotten  that  Aunt  Josephine  is  downtown,  shop- 
ping— 

"  And  is  getting  me  a  sailboat.  Mother,  do  let  me  sail 
it  in  the  Rhine  this  afternoon !  " 

"  This  morning,"  said  Anna,  "  your  mother  sent  for 
me;  very  early  indeed,  Ewald." 

"How  is  father?" 

"  He  sat  at  the  window  with  his  familiar,  cheery  smile. 
Your  mother  was  very  friendly  too." 

"  I  can  hardly  imagine  that." 

"  She  asked  me  if  I  would  not  come  here  to  Diissel- 
dorf  today  to  see  how  you  were  getting  on." 

"  But  Paul  was  here  only  yesterday." 

"  His  explanations  were  not  clear  to  her ;  she  was  con- 
fused and  wanted  to  be  certain  that  you  lacked  for 
nothing." 

"Mother?" 

"  As  if  there  were  anyone  else  in  the  world  more  nearly 
interested  in  your  welfare,  Ewald !  You  know  that,  in 
your  heart." 

"  Give  her  my  love,  then.  And  father  too — I'll — I'll 
send  word  myself — a  letter  !  " 

She  put  out  her  hand  impulsively.  "  That  is  sure  to 
please  them.  They  have  done  nothing  this  whole  year  but 
secretely  wish  and  hope  for  that." 


302  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

"  Do  you  really  think  so?  " 

"  Put  yourself  in  their  place.  It  must  be  less  for  pa- 
rents to  lose  a  child  outright  than  to  have  one  that  shows 
them  plainly  it  does  not  need  them.  How  old  and  useless 
that  must  make  the  poor  things  feel.  Can  you  realize  it 
at  all?  "  He  looked  down  at  his  plate 

The  old  aunt  came  in  just  them,  full  of  apologies  for 
being  late  to  coffee.  Little  Gustav  loudly  announced  that 
their  friendship  would  end  then  and  there  if  she  had  failed 
to  bring  the  promised  boat,  the  one  he  had  chosen  in  the 
window  that  morning. 

"Did  you  bring  it  with  you,  Auntie?  You  can't 
say  there  was  none,  for  I  saw  one  myself,  this  morn- 
ing." 

"  Here  it  is,  you  little  torment ! " 

"  Mamma !  Mamma !  Put  on  your  hat.  Just  look  !  the 
sun  is  still  shining  brightly.  Let's  all  go  to  the  Rhine  and 
sail  my  boat.  Uncle  Ewald,  you  want  to  go,  don't  you, 
and  Aunt  Anna  too?  " 

"  I  suppose  I  can  stay  at  home,  now,"  said  Aunt  Jo- 
sephine, greatly  hurt.  The  youngster  looked  ashamed; 
then  he  climbed  confidently  into  the  old  lady's  lap. 

"  Thank  you  very  much,  Aunt  Josephine !  " 

She  was  easily  appeased,  kissed  the  boy,  and  set  him 
down  on  his  busy  feet  again.  "  Go  on,  all  of  you,  and 
enjoy  yourselves.  When  you  come  home  again,  with  good 
appetites,  you'll  find  Aunt  Josephine  is  good  for  some- 
thing still." 

So  Emily  and  Anna,  Ewald  and  the  children,  strolled 
along  the  banks  of  the  Rhine  in  the  bright,  Spring  sun- 
shine. The  great  river  rippled  and  glistened  as  it  swept 
by,  seeming  to  smile  at  its  friend,  the  sun.  The  air  was 
soft  and  clear,  the  river  side  deserted;  not  a  person  to  be 
seen  on  the  Golzheimer  landing. 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  303 

"  Come ! "  said  Emily,  "  leave  the  children  with  me ;  we 
are  used  to  playing  together." 

Ewald  handed  the  boy  the  guiding  string  of  his  boat, 
and  stepped  back.  The  little  craft  swam  bravely  at  the 
end  of  its  tether.  Gustav  junior  announced  himself  its 
captain ;  his  little  sister  could  be  a  passenger.  All  three 
ran  along  the  bank  beside  it,  laughing  and  shouting. 

"  All  aboard ! "  rang  the  boy's  voice  from  the  distance. 
"  We're  going  to  papa  now "  Little  Milly's  an- 
swer did  not  reach  them  clearly,  but  it  seemed  to  be  a 
wail  for  him. 

Anna  had  spread  her  shawl  on  the  bank  and  now  Ewald 
sat  down  beside  her,  leaning  forward  to  watch  the  little 
boat  sailing  gayly  on  the  sunny  river.  Both  land  and 
water  breathed  the  glad  calm  of  early  Springtime. 

"When — when  are  you  coming  again,  Anna?  Tomor- 
row?" 

"  From  now  on  I  shall  stay  at  home." 

"But  why?     Because — a  little  while  ago ?" 

"  I've  already  forgotten  that.  I  cannot  hold  a  few 
hasty  words  against  you  after  all  you've  been  through." 

"  But  still— you'll  stay  away." 

"  There's  nothing  for  me  to  do  here  any  longer.  When 
I  tell  your  mother  tomorrow  that  you  are  well  again  every- 
thing will  be  as  it  should." 

"  Indeed  it  won't !  "  he  said,  stormily. 

"  Is  there  anything  more  to  set  right  ?  " 

"  Yes.  Between  us  two.  I  have  always — intentionally 
— treated  you  very  badly " 

"But  why,  Ewald?" 

"  Because — otherwise — I  should  have  treated  you  quite 
differently — and  that  I  struggled  against " 

They  sat  there,  after  this  incoherent  explanation,  silent, 
motionless,  gazing  thoughtfully  at  the  water;  he,  frown- 


304?  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

ing,  she  with  a  dreamy  smile.  A  long,  sparkling  wave 
rolled  at  their  feet,  leaving  a  gift  of  shimmering  pearls. 

"  How  strange !  "  said  Anna  at  last.  "  Somehow,  I 
always  felt  that  was  so." 

"  And  you  did  not  run  away  from  it  ?  " 

"  You  see  I  felt " 

"  That  I— I— loved  you?  " 

She  turned  her  face  to  meet  his  eyes,  and  saw  the  in- 
ward struggle  of  shame,  obstinacy  and  ardent  longing — 
man  and  boy  fighting  for  supremacy. 

"  I  have  known  it  ever  since  we  were  children,  Ewald." 

"And — you,  Anna?" 

"Am  I  not  still  here?" 

"  Although — even  though — I  must  tell  you  all  about 
it,  Anna.  When  August  spoke  of  marrying  you — you 
remember  that  time? — it  made  hardly  any  difference  to 
me.  I  was  mad  to  get  away  and  study  art,  and  nothing 
else  mattered." 

"  A  woman  must  expect  that.  All  men  strive  for  and 
desire  the  unknown.  And  you  were  no  exception." 

"  But — I  went  with  Gretchen  Zinters  too — you  didn't 
know  that." 

"  Of  course — you  were  lonely.  I  was  not  there  to  com- 
fort you," 

"Oh,  Anna!    Girl " 

She  felt  his  hand  seek  hers  gropingly,  his  arm  creep 
tenderly  about  her  waist.  She  gave  one  deep  sigh  of  per- 
fect contentment,  but  neither  spoke  again.  They  too 
shared  the  peace  of  the  Rhine. 

Now  merry  voices  sounded  from  the  river  bank  below, 
as  Emily  and  the  children  returned.  But  the  two  lovers 
were  deaf,  they  had  become  a  part  of  the  Spring  land- 
scape, except  that  they  were  still  conscious  of  each  other's 
presence.  When  Emily  joined  them,  Anna  did  indeed  look 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  305 

up  for  an  instant  with  beaming  eyes.  Then  her  glance 
met  Ewald's,  his  arm  tightened  about  her,  and  both  gazed 
dreamily  out  into  space  once  more. 

Emily  sat  down  quietly  beside  them.  Was  perfect  hap- 
piness always  so  silent?  Did  love  sometimes  give  so  com- 
pletely that  there  were  no  words  to  give  its  measure?  And 
yet  this  couple  seemed  to  commune  in  a  code  of  radiant 
emanations  that  were  felt  by  both  at  once — as  one.  Could 
there  be  such  perfect  unity  of  feeling?  How  might  one 
enter  this  world  where  the  everyday  world  was  so  com- 
pletely forgotten?  She  was  filled  with  a  sad  envy.  The 
envy  and  the  loneliness  grew  until  she  longed  to  throw  her- 
self on  the  ground  and  sob ;  but  she  only  sat  there  motion- 
less, gazing  into  space  like  the  happy  couple  beside  her. 
The  children,  tired  of  playing,  came  and  climbed  into 
their  mother's  lap.  She  put  an  eager  arm  about  each  as 
if  to  assure  herself  of  their  actual  presence.  Then  they 
too  were  caught  by  the  spell  of  the  sunset's  red  and  gold 
and  gazed  at  it,  silently. 

Finally,  Emily  arose,  saying,  "  Come  on.  Tomorrow 
is  another  day."  She  started  ahead  with  the  children, 
giving  an  indulgent  ear  to  their  chatter.  The  lovers  fol- 
lowed, arm  in  arm.  Where  the  path  turned  away  from  the 
river  they  paused  to  drink  again  the  rapture  of  mutually 
dreaming  eyes. 

"  My  little  Anna " 

"  Ewald,  dearest " 

"Just  one  kiss " 

"Must  I— do  the  kissing— first?" 

"  No,  no,  indeed— I  shall  do  it." 

She  swayed  toward  him,  put  up  two  hands  to  frame 
his  dear  face,  and  again  they  read  love's  magic  in  each 
other's  eyes.  Then  hand  in  hand  they  raced  like  merry 
children  to  overtake  Emily.  The  kindly  shadows  of  the 


306  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

court  park  hid  their  bashful  blushes  from  the  world — and 
each  other. 

"  I  suppose  you  intend  to  take  Anna  to  the  station  ?  " 
said  Emily,  after  they  had  finished  their  supper. 

"  Assuredly." 

"  Do  you  feel  strong  enough  ?  " 

"  I?    Strong  enough  ?    Pshaw  !  " 

Emily  considerately  took  pity  on  the  blushing  girl  and 
asked  no  more  questions.  Arm  in  arm  again  they  started 
off  for  the  station. 

"  Are  you  sure  you're  not  the  least  bit  angry  with  me 
any  more?  You  forgive  me  for — always  having  acted  so 
silly  and  stupid  when  we  met?  " 

"  If  you  had  not  had  any  pride  I  could  never  have 
cared  for  you.  I  don't  admire  the  people  I'm  not  a  bit 
afraid  of." 

"  Now  you're  making  fun  of  me." 

"  Truly,  I'm  not.  I  used  to  be  frightened  and  that's 
the  right  way.  A  man  who  never  loses  his  temper  is  no 
man  at  all,  he's  never  respected  by  his  wife,  and  you're 
going  to  be  mine." 

She  gave  his  arm  a  loving  squeeze  for  answer. 

"  And  you'll  never  go  back  on  me.  No  matter  how 
wrong-headed  I  may  get?" 

"  Why,  if  you  don't  find  something  to  dispute  about 
often  enough,  I'll  have  to  do  it  myself.  I  could  never 
stand  the  monotony  of  perpetual  peace." 

"  We  shall  have  to  wait  three  years,  till  I  am  twenty- 
four.  But  then ! " 

"Ah— h!" 

As  the  train  pulled  out,  she  whispered  one  last  admoni- 
tion. "  Work  hard,  Ewald,  for  us" 

"Don't  worry.  The  firm  of  Wiskotten  is  taking 
notice  of  this  very  junior  member  at  last." 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  307 

"  You  vain  child !  " 

"  Take  that  back.  You  see  before  you  a  budding  cap- 
tain of  industry." 

"  My  '  captain.'     That's  enough  for  me." 

"  All  aboard !  "  The  guard  locked  the  compartment 
and  the  train  was  gone. 

Ewald  left  the  station  with  head  held  high  and  the 
strength  of  ten  men  in  his  nervous  frame.  He  had  to  re- 
strain himself  from  shouting  aloud  in  triumph  in  a  way 
that  would  have  scandalized  the  worthy  burghers  of  Diis- 
seldorf.  As  he  left  the  main  street  and  turned  into  Gar- 
tenstrasse,  he  broke  into  a  run.  He  wanted  Emily's  sym- 
pathy and  womanly  presence.  Once  in  the  house,  he 
seized  her  and  kissed  her  fiercely,  in  spite  of  the  shocked 
looks  of  Aunt  Josephine. 

Emily  pretended  to  be  displeased.  "  Was  that  meant 
forme?" 

"  Don't  ask  me !  You,  they,  all  your  wonderful  sex. 
What  dear,  lovable  creatures  you  all  are ! " 

"  We  have  only  to  try— 

And  her  hand  stroked  his  flushed  face  tenderly,  cover- 
ing his  widespread  eyes. 


CHAPTER  VII 

GUSTAV  WISKOTTEN  pushed  back  his  business  corre- 
spondence and  sat  with  half-closed  eyes,  his  arms  resting 
heavily  on  the  table.  He  was  not  thinking,  he  was  trying 
to  collect  his  thoughts  and  review  his  recent  acts.  There 
were  new  lines  of  worry  and  care  on  his  face.  In  the  last 
few  weeks  he  had  undertaken  and  accomplished  more 
than  even  his  strength  could  stand — with  no  intimate 
restful  hours  of  home  life.  For  a  few  moments  he  re- 
mained thus,  then  leaned  back  slowly  and  turned  to  look 
at  his  brother  August  who  sat  nearby  writing  busily. 

"  I  think  I  shall  get  back  some  of  my  money  soon." 

"  Yes,  we're  safe  for  the  moment." 

"  For  the  moment?  I  tell  you  the  fight's  won!  We've 
astonished  our  customers — they  fairly  gobble  up  our  new 
samples  like  hot  cakes — and  as  for  old  Scharwachter, 
we've  nothing  more  to  fear  from  his  competition." 

"  Hate  is  more  tenacious  than  love.  Be  prepared  for  a 
final  ambush,  or  a  surprise." 

"  The  '  surprise  '  has  even  now  reached  me — a  personal 
letter  from  the  old  rascal  asking  for  a  truce.  To  bury  his 
dead,  no  doubt ! " 

August  Wiskotten  laid  his  pen  aside.  "  Jeremiah 
Scharwachter — wrote — you — a  personal  letter?" 

"  Yes,  my  boy.  That's  just  what  he  has  done.  Not  for 
any  family  reason,  either.  He  sees  the  beginning  of  the 
end  for  him,  and  knows  I'm  the  only  one  to  avert  it." 

"  Is  he  coming  here  ?  " 

"  He  writes  that  he  will  visit  me  at  my  house  this  fore- 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  309 

noon.  Don't  you  see,  he  wants  to  make  an  intimate  fam- 
ily matter  of  it?  " 

"And  you,  Gustav?" 

"  I  am  interested  only  in  the  business  side  of  it."  He 
rose  and  walked  to  the  window.  August  gave  him  a  long, 
questioning  look,  then  took  up  his  pen  and  went  on  writing 
quietly. 

"  Listen  to  that,  August — there's  real  music." 

"What?" 

"  Six  hundred  horse-power  at  work ;  and  the  men  that 
direct  the  power  too.  Who  can  be  deaf  to  such  living 
poetry?  " 

"  If  this  is  one  of  your  rare  sentimental  days,  your 
father-in-law  is  lucky." 

"  Why,  he — he  would  have  silenced  it  all.  But  now  he 
finds  these  same  wheels  crushing  him !  " 

"  Do  you  think  he's  at  the  end  of  his  rope  ?  " 

"  He  has  been  obliged  to  spend  his  reserve  capital,  and 
that's  too  much  for  him.  He'd  far  rather  pull  a  long  face 
and  swallow  all  his  fine  speeches  about  morality  than  sac- 
rifice another  cent.  But  his  private  opinions  have  no  in- 
terest whatever  for  me." 

He  turned  from  the  window  and  took  up  his  cap. 

"Well,  what  do  you  think  of  our  Ewald?  That  boy 
has  made  something  of  himself.  But  the  silly  fellow  would 
have  continued  to  put  his  creations  on  canvas,  where  they 
would  never  bring  the  price  of  the  paint,  except  for  that 
encounter  we  had  with  him  in  the  Neander  valley.  I'm  a 
serious  man,  with  a  regard  for  my  dignity,  but  I  cannot 
regret  that  fracas  now." 

"Yes,  it  means  more  looms  will  be  needed  here." 

"  Surely.  More  and  more  surprises  for  those  customers 
of  ours !  By  the  time  our  competitors  have  mastered  these 
novelties,  we'll  be  ready  to  make  them  a  Christmas  present 


310  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

of  the  lot — we'll  have  something  even  better.  Did  you  see 
those  Paul  brought  back  from  Diisseldorf  yesterday? 
They  made  me  want  to  go  and  get  drunk,  by  way  of  cele- 
bration." 

"  Gustav,  do  choose  your  expressions  more  carefully." 

"  Oh,  you  old  preacher,  if  you  only  knew  how  happy 
I  feel !  You  don't  understand  what  the  music  of  this  fac- 
tory means  to  me.  The  factory  has  never  failed  me. 
Never !  Neither  shall  I  fail  it." 

"Any  word  from  Emily?"  asked  his  brother,  without 
raising  his  head.  Gustav  did  not  answer,  but  left  the 
office  abruptly,  with  his  cap  drawn  down  over  his  eyes. 
From  the  office  he  passed  down  the  corridor  to  the  reel 
room. 

"  Can  you  spare  me  a  moment,  Mother  ?  " 

The  old  lady  came  out  to  him,  and  they  went  down  the 
stairs  together,  through  the  machine  room  and  across  the 
courtyard,  until  they  stood  beside  the  Wupper.  Near  the 
furnaces  they  passed  Christian,  busily  shoveling  coal. 

"Good  morning,  Frau  Wiskotten!"  he  cried.  "Can 
you  tell  me  how  it  is  that  I  get  corns  on  my  hands  as  well 
as  on  my  feet,  unless  we  are  really  descended  from  the  mon- 
keys! You  say  that  isn't  so."  He  ducked  into  his  den, 
chuckling.  But  just  now  Frau  Wiskotten  was  not  to  be 
stirred  to  combat  against  her  archenemy,  Darwin. 

"  What's  wrong,  Gustav?  " 

"  Mother,  I  want  you  to  help  me  recall  something,  a 
memory." 

"  Can't  you  do  that  without  my  help?  " 

"No,  Mother.  At  last  I  seem  to  see  it  all  the  more 
clearly  when  you  are  with  me  ...  We  stood  in  this 
same  place  last  November  .  .  .  then  we  went  into  the 
dye  works  and  sat  down  on  the  empty  vats.  You  and  I. 
Do  you  still  remember  ?  " 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  311 

"  Such  things — are  not  soon  forgotten." 

"  That  was  when  the  struggle  with  Scharwachter  began. 
You  were  my  only  backer.  It  was  you  who  gave  me  the 
courage.  You  knew  and  trusted  my  mettle,  and  trusted 
it  as  you  would  your  own.  Mother,  we  were  not  deceived, 
we  made  no  mistake  then.  We  have  won !  " 

"  I  knew  we  would — and  I  never  expected  any  other 
ending." 

"  The  very  man  who  ordered  me  out  of  his  house,  the 
man  who  robbed  me  of  the  presence  of  my  wife  and  chil- 
dren, who  did  his  uttermost  to  silence  the  music  of 
my  factory — the  enemy  against  whom  we  joined  forces 
in  the  silent  dye  works  that  night — is  beaten.  The  dye 
works  hum  like  a  beehive  today,  and  in  half  an  hour  he 
will  be  standing  before  me,  humbly,  hat  in  hand." 

A  moment  of  happy  silence,  while  the  faithful  Wupper 
murmured  at  their  feet.  Then  Frau  Wiskotten  asked: 

"Has  it  gone  as  far  as  that  already?" 

"  He  can't  hold  out  any  longer,  Mother.  He  has  lost 
too  much  already." 

"  The  Lord  has  delivered  him  into  our  hands." 

"  He's  there,  fast  enough." 

Again  they  were  silent,  and  the  Wupper  took  up 
its  tale  of  toil  and  the  endless,  endless  struggles  of  exist- 
ence. 

"What  are  you  going  to  do  with  him,  Gustav?  " 

"  You  think  that — because  of  Emily ?  " 

"  He  is  her  father." 

"  The  thought  that  he  was  her  father  and  my  children's 
grandfather  did  not  restrain  him.  I  have  no  notion  to 
shame  him  by  greater  generosity." 

"  Have  you  thought  it  over  carefully  ?  " 

"  Mother,  he  interfered  with  our  business,  tried  to  ruin 
the  factory.  There  can  be  no  question  of  my  private  quar- 


312  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

rel  with  him  today.  I  shall  treat  with  him  solely  as  with 
any  other  business  associate  of  the  firm  of  Gustav  Wis- 
kotten  and  Sons.  Tell  me,  is  that  right?  " 

The  old  woman  looked  intently  at  her  eldest  born.  Then 
her  eyes  swept  over  the  factory  lingeringly,  from  build- 
ing to  building.  How  it  had  grown  since  the  day,  long 
ago,  when  she  had  seen  the  first  stone  laid !  It  was  grow- 
ing, indeed,  nourished  by  the  sweat,  the  blood,  of  the  whole 
family — it's  heart's  blood ! 

"  Yes,  that  is  the  right  thing  to  do,  Gustav." 

He  made  a  hasty  motion  as  if  to  wipe  away  the  bitter 
smile  that  came  to  his  lips,  his  eyes  hardened  and  grew 
resolute,  as  his  glance  took  in  the  extent  of  the  factory 
buildings. 

A  boy  came  running  toward  them  with  word  that  there 
was  a  visitor  for  Herr  Wiskotten. 

"Where?" 

"  At  your  house,  sir." 

"  I  shall  be  there  in  five  minutes."  Mother  and  son  ex- 
changed glances  of  mutual  understanding,  then  she 
nodded  and  turned  and  crossed  the  courtyard,  back  to  her 
duties.  Gustav  stopped  to  give  Kolsch  a  few  necessary 
orders,  then  went  slowly  and  deliberately  to  meet  his 
father-in-law.  He  found  Jeremiah  Scharwachter  await- 
ing him  in  the  living  room. 

"How  can  I  be  of  service  to  you?"  he  said,  in  the 
meaningless  phrase  of  polite  usage. 

"  Good  day,  Gustav.  How  are  you  ?  These  are  bad 
times  for  business." 

"  Possibly,  for  some  people ;  I  myself  have  nothing  to 
complain  of." 

"Well,  but  you  cannot  expect  to  keep  up  this  merry 
tune  forever." 

"  But  we  do,  just  the  same." 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  313 

Herr  Scharwachter  blew  his  nose.  He  saw  there  was 
no  chance  for  anything  but  business. 

"May  I  sit  down?" 

"  Wherever  you  find  a  chair  handy." 

"  Thanks.  It's  quite  a  trip  from  my  house  to  yours. 
But  since  you  did  not  seem  to  know  the  way,  I  have  come 
to  show  that  age  is  more  generous  than  youth." 

"  Very  well,  then ;  continue  to  be  generous,  and  give  me 
your  reason  for  coming  here  today,  as  briefly  as  possible. 
Just  now  the  business  of  the  factory  leaves  me  no  free 
time." 

"Have  you  so  many  orders?  Are  all  the  looms  run- 
ning? " 

"  More  than  that.  For  the  first  time  we  have  been 
obliged,  temporarily,  to  give  outside  work  to  those  of  our 
weavers  who  could  take  it,  till  our  new  looms  are  installed. 
So,  your  business,  if  you  please " 

"  New  looms.     Aren't  you  undertaking  too  much  ?  " 

"  We  Wiskottens  have  good  digestions.  We  can  even 
swallow  competitors  that  become  annoying  to  us." 

The  old  man  cleared  his  throat.  His  turtle  head  sank 
into  the  shell  of  his  high  collar  and  he  shivered,  as  if 
chilled.  He  opened  his  mouth  twice  before  the  words 
came. 

"  Gustav — lately — things  have  not  been  exactly  as  they 
should  between  us — as  relatives." 

"  No,  not  exactly." 

"  Well,  there's  nothing  so  bad  that  it  cannot  be  mended. 
In  our  anxiety  to  succeed  we've  made  life  harder  for  one 
another.  Now,  let's  try  to  remedy  that." 

"  I  am  curious  to  hear  how  you  propose  to  do  it?  " 

"  My  dear  Gustav,  these  are  bad  times  for  business. 
No,  no;  you  cannot  convince  me  to  the  contrary.  If  for 
the  moment  things  are  well  with  you  it  is  only  a  passing  bit 


314.  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

of  good  luck.  These  few  new  patterns  with  which  you 
have  caught  the  buyers — pshaw,  next  time  someone  else 
will  have  that  good  fortune!  Public  fancy  is  fickle;  you 
cannot  hope  to  hold  all  this  trade.  Nor  can  you  keep  on 
underbidding  your  competitors  as  much  as  you  are  doing 
now." 

"My  competitors?     Meaning  yourself?" 

"  Well,  the  other  small  fry  do  not  really  count.  In  our 
specialties  we  two  supply  and  regulate  the  market.  So 
the  time  has  come,  I  think,  for  an  understanding  between 
the  firms  of  Jeremiah  Scharwachter  and  Gustav  Wiskot- 
ten  and  Sons." 

"  The  relations  between  the  two  firms  are  clearly  de- 
fined, I  believe  ?" 

"  Both  of  us  could  easily  increase  our  profits — by  com- 
ing to  an  honest  agreement." 

"  Our  dealings  are  all  honest." 

"  I  stand  ready  for  my  part." 

"  That  is  your  affair,  and  none  of  our  concern." 

The  head  that  had  been  eagerly  thrust  forward  sank 
again  into  the  starchy  retreat  of  his  collar. 

"  I  am  afraid,  my  dear  Gustav,  that  you  did  not  alto- 
gether understand  me.  This  is  what  I  meant  to  say:  the 
demand  for  our  goods  is  sufficient  to  support  both  firms 
and  yield  a  fair  profit.  But  only  if  they  play  fair,  and 
no  longer  indulge  in  this  ruinous  underbidding.  I  said 
a  while  ago  that  age  is  the  more  generous.  I  will  do  more, 
and  be  the  first  to  extend  the  hand  of  forgiveness.  Your 
factory  has  been  made  to  suffer  through  me,  but  it  shall 
not  in  the  future.  No,  indeed !  I  will  no  longer  lower 
my  prices,  you  may  breathe  freely  again.  I  suggest  that 
we  agree  on  a  general  schedule  of  prices,  and  am  willing 
to  abide  by  your  decision  as  to  what  it  shall  be." 

"  You  might  have  come  to  the  point  sooner." 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  315 

"  It  was  not  so  easy  to  overcome  the  ill  feeling  of  the 
past.  Now  it  is  buried  and  forgotten." 

"  I  am  glad  to  hear  it.  But  it  has  nothing  to  do  with 
the  business  in  hand." 

"  Dear  Gustav,  I  have  offered  you  my  hand  in  reconcil- 
iation." 

"  Very  well.  It  would  be  unchristian  to  refuse  it.  So 
then,  we  two  are  duly  reconciled.  But  I  still  fail  to  see 
what  that  has  to  do  with  the  factory." 

"  Dear  Gustav,  pray  do  understand  me ;  I  want  to  come 
to  an  agreement  on  future  prices." 

"  And  what  advantage  is  there  in  that  for  my  factory, 
for  Gustav  Wiskotten  and  Sons?  " 

He  sat  back  comfortably  in  his  chair,  and  turned  the 
most  innocent  of  faces  toward  his  visitor.  Jeremiah 
Scharwachter  pulled  himself  together. 

"  First  of  all,  dear  Gustav,  peace  and  quiet,  an  end  of 
this  worry  and  annoyance.  Further,  the  certainty  of  a 
fair  profit,  no  dread  of  competition,  if  we  compare  our 
goods  and  settle  the  prices  beforehand — — " 

"  Pardon  me — but  all  these  advantages — are  they  for 
Gustav  Wiskotten  and  Sons  ?  " 

"  Why  yes,  of  course !  " 

"  To  my  notion  you  have  been  telling  of  the  benefits  of 
such  an  arrangement  for  Jeremiah  Scharwachter.  Now, 
what  is  there  in  it  for  us  ?  " 

"  Why,  they  are  plain  enough !  All  these  advantages 
are  mutual,  dear  Gustav." 

"  That  would  be  true  if  the  two  firms  were  already 
equally  prosperous.  You  should  have  come  to  me  with 
this  proposition  last  Autumn,  at  the  time  when  you  came 
to  the  decision  to  push  us  to  the  wall.  But  now !  When 
your  firm — you  will  grant  me  business  acumen  enough  to 
realize  this — is  on  the  verge  of  bankruptcy,  has  nothing 


S16  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

but  debts  and  deficits,  it  is  in  no  condition  to  dictate  terms. 
It  should  be  glad  to  accept  any  that  are  offered." 

Jeremiah  Scharwachter  sprang  from  his  chair,  pale  with 
rage.  He  attempted  to  smile  a  cold,  superior  smile,  but 
it  froze  on  his  lips. 

"Deficits?  Debts?  You  resort  to  strange  terms  in 
your  efforts  to  get  the  better  of  me." 

"  Get  the  better  of  you — why,  I've  done  that  long  ago." 

"  Don't  try  my  patience  too  far.  For,  if  I  leave  this 
house — as  I  came " 

"  You'll  have  to  go  home  and  put  up  your  shutters  for 
good.  Don't  you  suppose  I  know  that  ?  " 

"  Gustav,"  Scharwachter  went  up  to  him  and  seized  him 
by  the  coat  sleeve. 

"And  what  then?  Let  us  assume  for  a  moment  you 
are  right." 

"  There  is  no  need  for  supposition,  I  am  right." 

"  And — then — you  would  not  give  a  thought  to — 
Emily?" 

"  Please  keep  to  the  business  matter,  Herr  Schar- 
wachter." 

"  Nevertheless,  she  is  your  wife." 

"  Yes,  my  wife.  Not  the  wife  of  the  firm  of  Wiskot- 
ten." 

"  Great  Heavens,  man !  Don't  be  so  merciless.  Since 
my  grandfather's  time  our  firm  has  been  known  and  re- 
spected." 

"  My  father  is  also  a  grandfather.  And  do  you  think 
he  or  my  mother  have  ever  been  idlers?  Their  hands  show 
the  callouses  of  honest  toil.  Herr  Scharwachter,  Herr 
Scharwachter,  you  should  have  considered  all  this  and 
have  realized  that  the  Wiskottens  are  an  honorable,  hard- 
working family.  He  who  respects  us  and  our  efforts  is 
our  friend.  The  man  who  attacks  us  dishonorably  finds 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  317 

that  we  fight  to  the  end  and  give  no  quarter.  You  have 
done  this.  Now  you  suffer  the  consequences.  Nothing 
more  remains  to  be  said." 

"  Gustav !  You  cannot  be  in  earnest !  Emily  bears  my 
name." 

"  No,  that  is  past.     She  bears  mine  now." 

Jeremiah  Scharwachter  clutched  wildly  at  the  empty 
air,  as  if  to  grasp  some  final  support.  Cold  drops  of 
sweat  stood  on  his  forehead.  He  was  a  pitiful  object 
even  to  the  stern  Gustav. 

"  Do  you  want  to  know  what  Mother  says,  Herr  Schar- 
wachter ?  You  know  my  mother  well.  She  is  a  God-fear- 
ing woman,  and  she  said  to  me,  '  The  Lord  has  delivered 
him  into  our  hands.'  " 

At  that  Jeremiah  Scharwachter  gave  up  the  fight. 
There  was  no  hope.  He  awaited  the  sentence  in  silence. 
But  when  Gustav  did  not  speak  at  once  he  ventured  on  one 
last  humiliating  appeal.  He  turned  and  went  slowly  to- 
ward the  door  that  led  to  the  inner  rooms. 

"  Herr  Scharwachter,  you're  going  the  wrong  way. 
That  door  leads  to  my  bedroom." 

The  other  made  no  answer,  but  turned  the  knob  and 
opened  the  door. 

"  Come  out,  children,  to  your  dear  papa." 

"  Heavens,  man !  Are  you  crazy,  or  playing  a  part  to 
gain  my  sympathy?  What — why — you  are  really  there? 
You  are  there — children — Gustav — Emmy ?  " 

He  bounded  forward  with  outstretched  arms  to  meet 
the  laughing,  shouting  children,  who  fairly  swept  him 
from  his  feet.  He  fell  to  his  knees  and  they  toppled  him 
over  with  a  storm  of  glad  cries  and  kisses. 

"  Papa,  Papa!     Can't  we  stay  here  now?  " 

"  We're  as  good  as  can  be,  both  of  us." 

"  And  I  have  a  sailboat." 


318  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

"  And  I  a  little  stove." 

"  Come,  let's  sail  it  in  the  Wupper  now." 

"  Steady,  steady !  you  whirlwinds,"  holding  them  closer 
to  him  and  kissing  the  boy — then  the  girl — then  the  boy 
once  more — another  kiss  for  the  girl . 

Finally  he  came  back  to  the  realization  of  his  father- 
in-law's  presence.  He  put  the  children  gently  aside  and 
rose.  With  sparkling  eyes  he  turned  to  the  old  man 
who  stood  fearfully  awaiting  the  outcome  of  his  bold 
maneuver. 

"  That  was  a  bright  idea,  father-in-law !  Now  bring  on 
your  last  reserves !  Call  Emily  in !  " 

"Emily  is  in  Diisseldorf." 

"  You  don't  mean  to  say  that  she  sent  the  children  back 
alone?  " 

"  I  went  and  fetched  the  children  yesterday,  in  order 
to  give  you  a  pleasant  surprise." 

"And  Emily  was  in  the  secret  of  this — joyous  family 
reunion?" 

"  No,  not  at  all.  I  asked  her  to  let  them  visit  me  for 
a  few  days." 

"  Thank  the  Lord !  "  said  Gustav,  with  a  mighty  sigh  of 
relief.  "  I  could  not  have  stood  that  too  from  her." 

"  Dear  Gustav " 

"  What  is  it?  " 

"Let  the  children — plead  for  their  grandfather." 

"Don't  try  to  make  them  innocent  conspirators — it's 
not  right.  And  besides,  don't  you  see  that  my  mind  is 
full  of  other  things  now?  " 

He  drew  the  children  to  him  again  and  held  them  in  a 
close  embrace.  The  two  little  heads  nestled  confidingly 
against  his  bearded  face. 

"  Gustav — I  wanted  to  give  you  some  pleasure." 

"  Then  it  was  a  new  departure  for  you  ?  " 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  319 

"  And  now  I  shall  leave  the  children  here  with  you.'* 

*'  As  if  I'd  let  you  do  anything  else." 

"  Still,  you  must  admit  that  I  brought  them  here  of 
my  own  volition.  Surely  you'll  not  grudge  me  the  thanks 
for  that?" 

"  No,  you  old  bargainer !  The  Wiskottens  always  pay 
their  debts." 

"Will  you  then — resume  our  business  discussion?" 

Gustav  put  the  children  on  the  sofa  and  walked  to  the 
window.  Minutes  passed  and  Jeremiah  Scharwachter  ex- 
perienced another  chill  of  apprehension.  At  last,  Gustav 
turned.  .$ 

"  Father-in-law,  your  motive  for  giving  me  this  sur- 
prise was  one  of  petty,  calculating  selfishness.  Yet  the 
result  was  the  same,  and  I  owe  you  thanks.  Well,  then,  I 
will  save  you  from  bankruptcy.  That  is,  your  firm  shall 
not  go  under.  But  you  must  give  up  your  factory.  Wind 
up  your  affairs  there  as  soon  and  as  quietly  as  possible. 
In  the  future  you  can  sell  our  goods  on  commission.  I 
shall  regulate  the  price.  Don't  interrupt  me.  No  thanks 
or  protests.  I  see  that  you  take  it  to  heart,  but  this  is  my 
last  word.  Good  morning!  Tell  Emily  she  need  not 
worry ;  the  children  shall  be  well  cared  for.  Good-by !  " 

Jeremiah  Scharwachter  left  them,  and  the  children 
sprang  upon  their  father  again  with  renewed  cries  of  joy 
and  stormy  caresses.  All  three  rolled  on  the  carpet  in 
this  long-delayed  orgy  of  romping,  and  Gustav  was  the 
greatest,  merriest  child  of  them  all. 

Then  he  straightened  his  rumpled  clothes,  put  on  an- 
other coat,  and  slipped  quietly  from  the  house  with  his 
little  ones — he  could  share  them  with  no  one  today,  no 
one  should  steal  even  so  much  as  a  glance  of  their  eyes. 
Only  now  did  he  fully  realize  how  he  had  longed,  starved 
for  them. 


320  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

They  hastened  along  the  steep  street  that  led  to  the 
woods  outside  the  town,  and  only  when  they  were  among 
the  trees  did  he  feel  safe.  There  among  the  awakening 
Spring  life  of  the  woodland  their  joy  broke  out  afresh. 
They  raced  and  shouted,  screamed,  whispered,  laughed — 
lay  still  and  listened  to  the  familiar  voices — this  was  the 
best  of  all.  At  the  rustic  inn  in  the  heart  of  the  wood, 
Gustav  ordered  a  meal  for  them.  He  tied  on  their  napkins, 
served  them,  and  in  his  joy  forgot  altogether  to  eat  him- 
self. The  little  ones  felt  like  fairy  princelings — and  ate 
like  teamsters.  Nothing  could  have  pleased  their  father 
more.  When  they  had  finished  they  struck  deeper  into  the 
forest,  to  a  shy,  hidden  little  brook.  Here  Gustav  whittled 
them  a  little  millwheel  such  as  he  had  often  made  in  his 
boyhood,  and  set  it  where  it  twirled  merrily  in  the  water. 

"  You  must  go  and  get  me  the  sailboat  I  left  in  Diis- 
seldorf,"  said  little  Gustav.  "  We  can  sail  it  here.  Down 
to  the  Wupper,  and  from  it  into  the  Rhine — and  then  to 
the  ocean.  That's  much  farther  than  Diisseldorf." 

"And  mamma  and  I  will  sail  in  it  too,  Papa,"  added 
little  Emmy. 

"  Have  you  planned  all  this  before?  " 

"  Yes,  with  mamma." 

"  And  mamma  went  with  you  to  papa?  " 

"  Yes,  and  if  we  were  not  good  she  told  us  that  papa 
wanted  only  good  people  in  Barmen.  She  said  we  were  in 
Diisseldorf  to  learn  that.  So  we  were  good.  Do  you  want 
us  now?  " 

He  seized  them  in  his  arms  and  drew  them  close. 

"  Did  you  never  make  mamma  cry?  " 

"  No, — she  never  cried  about  us,"  said  little  Gustav,  in 
a  perplexed  tone. 

"  What  did  she  cry  about,  then?  " 

"We  don't  know,  but  she  cried  often.     Now,   since 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  321 

Uncle  Ewald  has  come  and  Aunt  Anna  comes  to  visit  us 
so  often  from  Barmen,  she  is  quite  happy.  Do  you  know 
what  I  think?" 

"  Well,  what  is  it,  you  wiseacre?  " 

"  I  am  sure  she  thinks  that  she  can  come  back  to  Bar- 
men too." 

"  And  you  think  she'll  be  glad  to  come?  " 

"  She  was  sorry  and  cried  for  so  long — don't  you  think 
she  is  good?" 

"  Mother  is  always  good." 

"And  pretty?" 

He  drew  the  boy  closer.  "  Pretty  ?  Tell  me  what  makes 
you  say  that?  " 

"  Uncle  Ewald  said  so.  He  said  too  that  she  should 
wear  much  prettier  clothes,  and  a  new  dress  every  day — 
so  that  everyone  might  recognize  how  very  beautiful  she 
was,  Papa." 

"  And  did — mamma — listen  to  all  that  ?  " 

"  Yes,  and  she  was  very,  very  pleased." 

"  Run  away  now,  and  play  with  your  mill,  child ! " 

He  lay  back  in  the  sun-warmed  moss  with  dreaming 
eyes,  the  shouts  of  his  children  making  music  in  his  ears. 

"Ah!"  he  said,  and  stretched  himself,  "this  Spring 
air !  " 

Holding  a  child  by  each  hand  he  returned  home  toward 
evening.  With  head  held  high,  he  marched  through  the 
same  gate  that  he  had  gone  through  so  dejectedly  that 
morning. 

"  Send  word  to  Herr  Kolsch  at  once,"  he  ordered,  "  that 
I  should  like  to  have  him  and  Fraulein  Anna  come  to  me 
here." 

"  I'll  ask  Anna  to  stay  with  the  children  for  the  time 
being,"  he  said  to  himself.  "  We  can  put  a  bed  in  the 
nursery  for  her." 


322  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

Anything  rather  than  another  separation !  How  had 
he  done  without  their  childish  prattle  for  so  long?  The 
misery  and  loneliness  of  their  absence  suddenly  swept  over 
him,  and  iron  bands  seemed  to  compress  his  great  chest. 

"  Children— children " 

"Papa?" 

The  bands  snapped  and  he  breathed  freely. 

A  shadowy  form  crept  timidly  past  the  house,  it  cow- 
ered in  the  shadows  and  spied  in  at  the  lighted  windows. 

The  porter  noticed  it  and  stepped  out  twice,  looking 
about  suspiciously.  When  it  reappeared  for  the  third 
time  he  called  out,  "  Who  goes  there?  "  and  it  disappeared. 
The  shadow  was  gone — and  Emily  Wiskotten  made  her 
way  to  another  part  of  the  town  through  deserted  side 
streets. 

"  If  only  I  had  been  able  to  see  more  of  him  than  the 
mere  black  silhouette !  If  only  I  could  have  seen  his  face 
— read  his  thoughts — they  are  always  clearly  written  for 
all  to  read.  I  wonder,  does  he  believe  that  I  knew  any- 
thing of  father's  scheme?  " 

She  had  reached  Barmen  that  afternoon  on  the  first 
passenger  train  from  Diisseldorf ,  overcome  by  anxiety  and 
longing  for  the  children,  after  less  than  a  day's  separa- 
tion. She  had  gone  to  her  father's  to  get  them,  and  he 
had  coldly  informed  her  that  he  had  taken  them  to  their 
father.  Furthermore,  it  would  be  greatly  to  his — her 
father's — interest,  should  she  also  go  back  home  where 
they  were  and  she  belonged.  Had  she  done  so  earlier,  he 
should  not  now  have  to  cry  for  mercy  of  the  Wiskottens. 
He  had  been  forced  to  pay  dearly  for  his  daughter's  wil- 
fulness.  Dearly,  indeed !  More  than  a  hundred  thou- 
sand marks.  "Are  you  worth  it?  You  or  your  rascal 
of  a  husband?  "  he  cried,  losing  his  self-control.  He  had 
taken  the  children  to  Gustav  to  plead  for  him.  Would  not 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  323 

Gustav  believe  that  she  had  connived  at  this — believe  too 
that  she  was  willing  to  bribe  him  now  with  all  she  had 
withheld,  in  order  to  save  her  father?  As  a  matter  of 
business  expediency?  It  was  a  terrible  blow  to  her  just 
now,  when  she  had  been  on  the  point  of  returning  for  far 
different  reasons.  Now  the  way  was  closed.  Her  return 
must  be  free,  joyous,  clear  of  all  suspicion — bringing  no 
shadow  of  their  past  discord. 

Emily  racked  her  brain  frantically  until  the  very  effort 
dulled  her  sensibilities,  and  she  walked  apathetically 
through  the  familiar  streets.  Oh,  this  terrible  loneliness ! 

"Emily?" 

Was  someone  calling  her?  Surely  not.  Yet  it  might 
easily  be. 

"  Emily  Wiskotten  !  " 

Politeness  demanded  that  she  halt  and  answer,  but  she 
hurried  on.  A  hand  fell  on  her  shoulder,  the  gloved  hand 
of  a  woman.  She  realized  this  much  before  she  looked  up. 

"  Don't  try  to  run  away  from  me  like  that.  Stand 
still,  I  claim  the  reward  for  finding  you,  runaway ! " 

"  Mabel — "  she  stammered. 

"  Do  you  really  recognize  me?  Well,  I'm  glad  of  that. 
I  recognized  you  readily  enough,  in  spite  of  that  veil. 
Such  a  figure  and  carriage  as  yours — straight  from  the 
Garden  of  Eden,  with  all  of  our  first  mother's  grace  and 
beauty — cannot  easily  be  disguised.  Now  let  me  see  your 
face  too — take  off  your  veil." 

She  did  not  wait,  but  pushed  back  the  veil  herself  and 
put  a  playfully  affectionate  hand  under  the  other's  chin. 
*'  Charming !  As  charming  as  ever.  And  now  I  get  the 
first  kiss  from  the  returned  prodigal."  She  kissed  Emily 
heartily  on  the  mouth. 

"  Your  lips  have  a  different  language — than  in  the 
past " 


324  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

At  that  the  lonely  woman  completely  broke  down  utterly 
and  began  to  cry. 

"Come,  my  dear;  a  woman's  tears  are  too  sacred  for 
the  common  gaze." 

Emily  followed  her  unresistingly,  and  they  soon  reached 
the  bride's  new  villa. 

In  the  small,  cozy  drawing  room  the  two  women  sat 
on  the  sofa,  while  a  silver  coffee  machine  murmured 
words  of  cheery  promise.  Then  Emily  unburdened  her 
heart. 

The  young  hostess,  a  vision  of  feminine  charm  in  her 
clinging  house  negligee  of  silk  and  lace,  gazed  thought- 
fully at  the  other's  thick,  tightly  coiffed  hair  without 
answering. 

"What  shall  I  do?" 

"What  shall  you  do?  Nothing  at  all.  Except,  per- 
haps, do  your  hair  differently." 

"  Is  that  all  you  can  suggest  ?  "  said  Emily,  with  a 
sad  smile. 

"  Oh,  no !  That's  only  the  first  step.  We  women  must 
use  our  beauty  as  a  weapon  against  the  superior  strength 
and  coarser  sensibilities  of  men.  People  who  really  love 
each  other  must  live  in  a  perpetual  state  of  armed  truce. 
'  Tou  jours  en  vedette!'  A  daily  conquest  of  happiness, 
victory  leading  on  to  fresh  victory.  What  good  to  me  is 
happiness  if  it  is  not  alive — of  today?  Happiness  is  not 
a  thing  of  dreams,  but  of  action,  a  thing  new  and  different 
with  every  sunrise  and  sunset.  Every  man  dreams  about 
women  and  idealizes  them.  And  it  is  ours  to  say  what 
form  those  dreams  and  ideals  shall  take.  Come,  make 
yourself  comfortable." 

"Is  William  away?" 

"  Yes,  he  is  in  England,  looking  for  a  gold  frame  to 
put  his  precious  Mabel  in.  Oh,  you  little  fool !  I  let  him 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  325 

dream  his  dreams — and  do  as  I  (like.  In  fact,  this  makes 
us  both  happy.  So  you'd  better  stay  here." 

"  But  what  if  someone  should  come  in ! " 

"  Someone?  Who,  then?  The  girl  has  her  orders  to 
say  I  am  not  at  home.  You  can  sleep  in  William's  bed. 
Well,  what  are  you  laughing  at  now?  I'm  the  most  gen- 
erous person  in  the  world — I'll  lend  you  a  negligee  too — 
and  we'll  sit  up  and  chat  all  night." 

She  ran  out  and  returned  in  a  moment  with  a  robe  of 
some  Japanese  stuff  that  hung  loose  except  for  a  silk 
girdle.  "  There  now,  don't  make  such  puritanical  faces. 
This  is  a  perfectly  respectable  garment — a  religious  one 
too,  you  followers  of  Luther!  Religion  is  something  to 
make  men  glad  and  take  the  burden  from  their  over- 
worked consciences.  Religion  should  be  a  thing  to  make 
the  world  happier  and  more  beautiful.  So  you  see,  this 
robe  is  religious.  Now,  take  that  street  dress  off." 

"  But  Mabel " 

Her  protests  were  wasted. 

"  Am  I  to  let  you  sit  there  without  anything  on,  then  ? 
Don't  fold  your  arms  and  cower  like  a  frightened  Greek 
goddess.  Those  arms  are  beautiful  enough,  but  here  is  a 
better  way  to  shield  your  charms  from  prying  eyes — 
Behold  Diana,  or  is  it  Venus?  Hidden  in  a  cloud  of  her 
own  hair ! " 

"  Mabel,   what   are   you    about  ?      You   bewilder   me." 

"I'm  bewildered  too.  I  cannot  see  you  any  longer — 
only  the  cloud  that  has  descended  and  hidden  you.  Are 
you  really  still  there?  Oh,  you  novice  in  love,  you  great 
simpleton !  A  woman  with  such  hair  to  be  separated 
from  her  husband  that  she  loves — and  unhappy !  " 

Emily  reached  out  and  gathered  her  hair  into  its  famil- 
iar coils  again.  The  joyous  abandon  of  her  sister-in-law 
upset  her,  made  her  happy  but  ashamed ;  no,  not  that, 


326  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

she  only  felt  that  she  should  be  ashamed.  In  reality  she 
felt  a  great  desire  to  throw  herself  on  the  other  woman's 
breast ;  to  laugh — to  cry — she  could  not  tell  which.  With 
unsteady  hands  she  knotted  up  the  heavy  coils. 

"  That's  a  shame !  "  said  Mabel.  "  But  it  becomes  you 
to  be  embarrassed.  I  did  well,  after  all,  not  to  put  the  neg- 
ligee on  you  at  once." 

Emily  let  her  hair  fall. 

"Mabel!"  she  cried.  "Oh,  Mabel!"  She  clung  to 
her,  sobbing,  laughing,  hiding  her  face  on  the  friendly 
shoulder — no  longer  Emily  Wiskotten,  but  a  girl  in  the 
Springtime,  a  bride  awaiting  her  bridegroom,  a  woman  at 
last  awakening  to  the  realization  of  God's  greatest  gift — 
the  blessing  of  the  love  that  creates  and  gives. 

"  Oh,  Mabel !  What  have  you  done  to  me  ?  What  are 
you  making  of  me?  " 

"  Only  what  you  have  long  been,  without  knowing  it 
yourself,  what  we  all  are  when  we  but  use  our  gifts. 
Creatures  of  inner  and  outer  beauty,  blended  in  one.  I 
only  led  you  back  to  the  right  path,  you  poor,  lost  lamb! 
Away  from  false  shame  to  glad,  unafraid  womanhood. 
First  be  unashamed — then  you  are  really  pure." 

"  And  to  think  that  I  hated  you !  " 

"  Don't  try  to  make  yourself  think  that.  It  was  your- 
self you  hated,  because  you  had  not  the  courage  to  be 
like  me.  Admit  it !  There's  no  man  about  to  hear  you." 

They  sat  for  a  moment  watching  the  coffee  machine 
simmer  gently.  The  whole  room  breathed  an  atmosphere 
of  feminine  intimacy  and  comfort. 

"  I  must  have  a  room  like  this  too,"  said  Emily,  lean- 
ing back  in  her  comfortable  chair  and  looking  about. 

"  Now,  you're  on  the  high  road  to  recovery,"  said  Mabel 
gayly,  and  the  pretty  room  rang  with  the  laughter  of  the 
two  women. 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  327 

That  night,  as  they  lay  chatting  in  bed,  Emily  suddenly 
broke  in  with  the  question : 

"  But  how  am  I  to  get  back  to  Gustav?  " 

"  In  a  triumphal  chariot.  The  man  must  always  be  the 
suppliant." 

"  But  where  is  the  chariot  coming  from?  I  can  tell  you 
I  never  felt  less  the  victor  than  now." 

"  Go  to  sleep,  my  dear.  But  first  say  a  little  prayer 
to  God  that  your  beloved  Gustav  may  do  something  very 
foolish  that  will  put  him  in  the  wrong — and  at  your 
mercy." 

"  Mabel,  don't  mock  me !  " 

"  In  all  seriousness,  Emily.  A  feeling  of  guilt  and 
of  gratitude  for  a  wife's  silent  forgiveness  strengthens  a 
man's  love  and  fidelity  as  nothing  else  does.  Did  you  say 
that  prayer?  Then  give  me  a  good-night  kiss.  Give 
my  love  to  Gustav,  if  you  meet  him  in  dreamland." 

Another  soft,  silvery  peal  of  laughter,  a  few  sleepy 
words,  and  the  conspirators  were  asleep. 


CHAPTER  vrn 

As  the  first  light  of  dawn  crept  through  the  shutters, 
Gustav  Wiskotten  woke  out  of  a  deep  sleep.  He  blinked 
a  while  without  moving.  The  clock  in  the  sitting  room 
struck  six,  then  the  factory  whistle  blew,  long  and  shrill. 
This  attracted  his  attention ;  he  had  slept  for  seven  hours 
at  a  stretch,  a  red-letter  day.  Hark,  what  was  that  mur- 
muring in  the  next  room !  He  leaped  up.  The  children  ! 
He  dressed  like  the  wind.  How  refreshing  the  water  was 
today !  Half  dressed,  he  listened  at  the  door.  Little  Gus- 
tav had  evidently  been  up  to  some  trick,  for  the  children 
were  screaming  with  laughter.  Should  he  go  in  and  surprise 
them  in  their  nightdresses?  He  stopped  himself  just  in 
time.  Of  course,  no !  Why,  Anna  was  there !  He  laughed. 
What  a  fright  it  would  give  her !  He  banged  on  the  door. 

"  Get  up,  sleepy  heads  !  " 

"  We've  been  up  a  long  time — you're  the  sleepy  head !  " 
cried  the  babies'  voices.  He  stood  still,  drinking  in  the 
sound. 

"  Come  into  the  sitting  room,  you  rogues !  " 

"  Is  Aunt  Anna  a  rogue  too?  " 

"  I'm  not  sure  about  that." 

In  the  sitting  room  he  found  breakfast  all  ready.  For 
six  months  he  had  had  his  coffee  brought  to  his  office.  He 
sat  at  the  foot  of  his  table  and  rubbed  his  hands. 

"  Good  morning,  Anna !    Did  you  sleep  well?    Ah,  there 
you  are,  you  little  monkeys ! "     What  a  delicious  noise 
they  made  as  they  fell  upon  him !    Now  he  felt  indeed  that 
night  was  gone,  and  morning  come. 
328 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  329 

"Fall  to,  fall  to — are  you  hungry?  " 

"  Gustav  wanted  to  have  his  bread  and  butter  in 
bed." 

"  Oh,  greedy !  Tomorrow  we'll  write  up  over  your  bed, 
*  This  creature  is  called  glutton,  because  of  his  greed ! ' ' 

"  I  only  wanted  to  drop  the  crumbs  in  Emily's  bed, 
they're  so  scrubby." 

"  You  ought  to  be  ashamed  of  yourself,  boy.  That's 
not  the  way  to  treat  a  young  lady." 

"  Papa,  Papa !    Gustav  whispered  something  to  me." 

"  What  was  it,  my  pet?  " 

"  He  said  I  wasn't  a  young  lady — I  was  a  little  mon- 
key!" 

"  It  seems  to  me,  Gustav  will  get  himself  disliked.  Anna, 
it's  a  nice  job  I've  given  you! " 

"  They  are  genuine  Wiskottens." 

"Oho!  That  means  I'm  no  better  myself?  All  right, 
then,  I'm  off.  I  must  go  to  the  factory ;  there  they  show 
me  proper  respect." 

"  Give  my  love  to  father." 

"  Surely." 

He  went  off,  waving  his  cap.  The  shouts  of  the  chil- 
dren followed  him. 

"Good  morning,  Christian!" 

"  Good  morning,  Herr  Gustav !  Have  you  had  your 
hair  cut?" 

"No,  why?" 

"You  look  so  young.  Are  the  children  well  and 
happy?" 

"  Lively  as  crickets ;  their  noise  nearly  deafened  me." 

He  touched  his  cap  and  hurried  on  to  the  office.  The 
eight  o'clock  whistle  was  blowing.  Never  before  had  he 
come  in  so  glad,  but  he  was  not  in  the  least  ashamed  of 
himself. 


330  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

"  What  in  the  world  smells  so  here  ?  "  he  asked,  as  he 
walked  in. 

August  looked  up. 

"  You're  growing  dissipated." 

"  I  dissipated?     Good  Lord!     Why?" 

"  Yesterday  you  disappeared  absolutely  from  the  fac- 
tory, and  today " 

"  Say,  there  really  is  a  beastly  smell  in  here." 

"  When  one  receives  pink  letters  they  usually  are 
scented.  There,  amongst  your  private  correspondence. 
Do  take  the  thing  away ;  it  infects  the  air." 

Shaking  his  head,  Gustav  looked  at  the  pink  envelope, 
lifted  it  cautiously  in  his  finger  tips,  holding  his  nose. 

"  Ugh — there  must  be  at  least  a  quart  of  musk  in  it." 

"  Now  don't  pretend  to  be  surprised.  I  advise  you  to 
get  it  out  of  here  before  mother  comes  and  smells  it,  or 
there'll  be  the  devil  to  pay." 

"  I  haven't  the  least  idea !  "  murmured  Gustav,  and  tore 
open  the  envelope.  He  gave  one  glance  at  the  signature, 
then  crushed  the  letter  into  his  pocket. 

"  Here,  hand  over  the  mail." 

He  ran  through  his  correspondence,  made  notes,  asked 
a  few  questions  irritably,  then  disappeared. 

"  The  girl  must  be  quite  shameless,  to  write  to  me  here." 

He  found  a  deserted  spot  near  the  river,  looked  round 
like  a  naughty  schoolboy,  then  took  the  letter  out  of  his 
pocket. 

"  HONORED  SIR  AND  PROTECTOR  : 

"  I  ought  to  be  angry  with  you,  because  you 
have  broken  your  word,  and  have  not  written  as  you 
promised.  But  when  I  think  of  you,  as  I  do  all  the 
time,  I  can't  be  angry  with  you. 

"  I  should  so  love  to  visit  the  factory  and  pick  out 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  331 

some  ribbons  and  laces  for  myself.  Then  we  could 
go  off  somewhere  together,  and  I  would  just  give  you 
one  sweet  kiss,  for  I  love  you  as  much  as  you  love 
me.  And  if  you  keep  your  promise  and  help  me  to 
go  on  the  stage,  then  I'll  do  whatever  you  want.  As 
I  am  longing  to  see  you  I'm  coming  to  Barmen  to- 
morrow. I'll  send  a  boy  to  the  factory,  or  the  porter, 
to  let  you  know  I'm  there.  I'm  so  happy  at  the 
thought  of  seeing  you  again — so  soon ! 

"  With  much  love, 

"  Your  devoted, 

"GRETCHEN  ZINTERS. 

"  P.S.    Don't  write  and  say  I'm  not  to  come ;  I  shall 
come  all  the  same." 

" I  shall  come  all  the  same"  repeated  Gustav.  He  had 
got  himself  into  a  nice  hole.  He  hadn't  given  the  girl  a 
thought  since  he  had  got  over  the  taste  of  the  gin.  That 
she  should  come  now;  now  that  he  had  the  children  with 
him !  She  should  not  enter  the  house. 

"  Don't  write  and  say  I  am  not  to  come ;  I  shall  come 
all  the  same."  What  could  he  do?  Meet  her  at  the  sta- 
tion and  send  her  packing  back?  That  would  not  do.  For 
one  thing,  he  did  not  know  what  station  she  would  come 
to,  and  for  another,  what  train  she  would  take.  Besides, 
he  could  not  make  a  ridiculous  scene  at  the  station.  His 
head  spun  at  the  mere  thought.  What  the  devil  could 
he  do?  Give  orders  that  she  was  not  to  be  admitted? 
That  might  lead  to  comment  and  gossip.  He,  the  master, 
must  give  his  men  no  reason  for  that.  No,  he  must  bear 
the  consequences  of  his  folly.  He  swore  softly.  Perhaps 
during  the  course  of  the  day  some  better  plan  might 
occur  to  him. 

Everything  went  wrong  in  the   factory.      He  scolded 


332  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

ceaselessly.  When  he  joined  Fritz  in  the  laboratory  to 
discuss  a  delicate  shade,  the  latter  sniffed  knowingly;  he 
was  a  connoisseur  in  ladies'  scents.  In  the  middle  of  a 
sentence  Gustav  broke  off  and  left  the  room,  banging  the 
door  after  him. 

At  dinner  he  wore  a  look  of  forced  merriment.  The 
foreman  ate  with  them  until  some  definite  arrangements 
could  be  made.  The  happy  faces  and  gay  voices  of  the 
children,  who  talked  of  nothing  but  mamma  and  Diissel- 
dorf,  made  him  ashamed.  Anna  looked  at  him  anxiously, 
and  tried  to  turn  the  children's  attention  to  herself.  After 
a  time  she  succeeded  in  her  efforts,  and  the  meal  was  fin- 
ished without  catastrophe.  After  dinner  the  foreman 
went  home  to  take  an  hour's  rest  and  Gustav  also  retired. 
But  rack  his  brain  as  he  might,  he  could  think  of  nothing. 
L.  the  afternoon  he  pleaded  a  business  engagement.  It 
had  occured  to  him  to  visit  his  sister-in-law,  Mabel. 
Women  have  ideas. 

"  Mrs.  Wiskotten  is  not  receiving  today " 

"  Nonsense,  she'll  receive  me !  Tell  her  Fm  here,  Gus- 
tav Wiskotten." 

The  girl  kept  him  waiting  endlessly.  What  was  the 
meaning  of  all  this  ceremony?  Had  she  some  other 
visitor? 

"  You  can  come  in,  Herr  Wiskotten." 

"What  did  I  tell  you?" 

Mabel  came  forward  to  meet  him ;  graciousness  itself. 
Was  it  his  bad  conscience,  or  was  she  really  different  to- 
day? 

"  Forgive  me,  Mabel,  for  disturbing  you,  but  the  matter 
is  urgent." 

"  Nothing  to  do  with  the  children?  " 

"  The  children?    What  made  you  think  of  them?  " 

"  That's  the  thing  one  naturally  does  think  of  when 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  333 

a  father  comes  in  at  an  unusual  calling  hour,  looking 
worried." 

"  No,  thank  Heaven,  it's  nothing  to  do  with  the  chil- 
dren !  They're  quite  happy." 

He  looked  around  suspiciously.  Was  she  really  con- 
fused, or  was  he  imagining  things  ?  Mabel  felt  the  glance 
and  smiled  amiably.  What  did  her  brother-in-law  want? 
Could  he  have  heard  of  Emily's  arrival?  That  were  hard- 
ly possible. 

"  Do  sit  down,  dear  Gustav,  and  if  I  can  do  anything 
to  help  you,  you  know  I'll  be  delighted." 

Gustav  sat  down.  He  found  it  very  hard  to  begin.  At 
last,  "  Sister  Mabel,  you're  a  sensible  woman " 

"  I  sometimes  imagine  I  am,  Gustav." 

"  I  may  speak  freely  to  you?  " 

"  Quite  freely." 

"  Then,  Mabel,  I  have  got  into  an  awful  mess.  No,  no, 
don't  excite  yourself;  nothing  wrong!  But  still — a  girl 
— a  little  girl  from  Diisseldorf.  I  just  flattered  her  a 
little;  honestly  nothing  more,  and  now  she's  a  nuisance  to 
me." 

"  But  really,  Gustav,  this  is  too  funny." 

"  I  can't  say  that  I  consider  it  a  laughing  matter,  my- 
self. I  won't  have  her  in  the  house." 

"  She  wants  to  come  and  live  with  you,  doesn't 
she?" 

"  Please  be  serious.     She  wants  to  visit  me." 

"When?" 

"  Tomorrow  morning."  " 

"  But,  Gustav,  that's  really  charming  of  her.  A  visit 
from  a  lady " 

"  *  Lady  '  is  hardly  the  correct  word.  She  wants  to  go 
on  the  stage,  and  I  am  to  be  her  protector." 

"  You,  Gustav,  for  art's  sake  purely?  " 


334.  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

"  Hardly.  I  think  she  has  other  plans.  Here,  read 
the  letter."  Mabel  wrinkled  her  nose. 

"  You'll  have  to  educate  her  taste,  Gustav.  Teach  her 
not  to  use  this  scent,  first  of  all.  It  really  is  not  used  by 
the  best  families." 

"  Mabel,  if  I  did  not  need  your  help " 

"  But  I'm  giving  you  good  advice." 

"  I  know  I'm  a  fair  butt ;  laugh  away  !  But  when  you've 
read  that  letter  you'll  see  it's  not  so  funny." 

"  You're  right,  Gustav,"  said  Mabel  when  she  had  read 
the  letter  through  carefully,  her  eyes  gleaming  with  mis- 
chief. 

"  I  don't  think  it  funny  at  all.  Gretchen  Zinters. 
Isn't  that  the  daughter  of  the  house  where  Ewald  used  to 
lodge?" 

"  Yes.  her  father  keeps  a  bar." 

"  And  your  brother,  Ewald,  once  had  the  intention  of 
making  her  your  sister-in-law." 

"What?  Ewald?  Gretchen  Zinters?  How  is  it  you 
seem  to  know  all  this  ?  " 

"  Oh,  that's  a  secret !  I've  a  lively  interest  in  all  the 
Wiskottens,  you  know." 

"  There's  no  doubt  you  would  have  stolen  the  apple, 
just  as  Eve  did,  if  you  had  had  the  chance." 

"  Cheer  up,  Gustav ;  you  needn't  think  you're  hurting 
him.  He  was  through  with  the  girl." 

"  Thank  you,  exceedingly.  Since  when  have  I  kept  an 
old  clothes  shop?  Our  youngest  brother,  and  I,  and  his 
late  mistress?  It  seems  to  me  that  I  made  a  mistake  in 
coming  to  you,  Mabel.  Instead  of  trying  to  help  me  you 
are  just  making  fun  of  me." 

"I  think  you  are  very  unjust;  when  one  has  to  fight 
an  enemy,  one  must  know  exactly  where  one  is." 

"  Well,  we'll  admit  that.     What  next?  " 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  335 

"  Don't  get  nervous,  Gustav.     Be  calm,  dear  brother." 

"Are  you  laughing  at  me?  Or  do  I  misunderstand 
you?" 

"  It  only  seems  so  to  you  because  the  role  of  a  pro- 
tector waiting  for  the  exit  of  the  diva  does  not  really  suit 
you." 

"  Mabel,  really  I've  had  enough  of  your  raillery !  Will 
you  advise  me,  or  won't  you?" 

She  leaned  back  in  her  chair,  crossed  her  feet  and  closed 
her  eyes. 

"  I  can  only  think  of  one  thing." 

"  Ah !  "  he  breathed  more  freely.  "  It  must  be  definite 
and  final." 

"  You  must  receive  her  in  your  own  home,  tell  the  porter 
to  take  her  there ;  then  explain  to  her  that  since  seeing  her 
you  have  married  and  become  the  father  of  two  lovely 
children,  and  that  your  wife " 

"  That's  enough,  Mabel !  " 

"  That  your  wife,"  she  went  on,  without  losing  her  calm 
self-possession,  "  will  in  future  make  more  demands  upon 
your  time  and  attention,  and  will  not  be  willing  to  share 
you  with  anyone." 

"  If  I  didn't  know  you  had  sharp  claws,  I  should  kiss 
your  hands  for  that." 

"  You  need  not  be  sarcastic.  The  only  thing  I  regret 
about  this  interview  is  that  Emily  could  not  have  been 
in  my  place.  I  can  only  hear  your  confession ;  she  could 
have  given  you  absolution." 

"  Thanks.     Now  I  know  just  where  I  am." 

"  I  hope  I  have  been  of  some  use  to  you." 

"  Oh,  yes !  A  great  deal.  I  have  discovered  that  a 
woman  will  help  a  man  against  his  own  wife,  but  not 
against  another  woman." 

"  Dear  Gustav,  look  at  it  from  the  business  standpoint. 


336  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

Competition  is  quite  useful  and  healthy,  if  it  does  not 
degenerate  into  rivalry.  That's  the  way  with  women, 
too." 

Gustav  laughed.  "  Saul  went  out  to  find  a  strayed 
ass,  and  found  a  kingdom." 

"  I  never  doubted  your  intelligence,  Gustav." 

"  Have  you  done  with  your  mocking?  " 

"  Yes,  I've  done,  but  it  wasn't  mockery.  You  are 
ashamed  because " 

"  I,  ashamed  ?  I  came  to  you  entirely  of  my  own 
accord." 

"  Yes,  because  I  am  not — Emily." 

He  rose  to  go.  "  Forgive  me  for  disturbing  you, 
Mabel.  I  have  wasted  your  time." 

"  Not  at  all.    I  have  seldom  enjoyed  a  chat  more." 

"  When  your  birthday  comes  I'll  give  you  a  *  polichi- 
nelle.'  " 

"  Oh,  you  vain  men !  If  we  didn't  laugh  sometimes,  it 
would  be  a  dull  world.  Why,  Gustav,  I  should  be  com- 
pelled to  hold  my  breath  in  admiration  of  so  much  heroism. 
Fortunately  you  men  tumble  now  and  again  from  your 
perches,  and  we  women  have  the  supreme  felicity  of  brush- 
ing the  coats  of  our  heroes." 

"  Good-by,  Mabel." 

"  Good-by,  Gustav.  And  as  I  said,  receive  the  young 
woman  in  the  circle  of  your  family." 

"  If  that's  not  pure  malice." 

"  Pure  sisterly  love,  I  assure  you." 

"  Let  me  go ;  you  bewilder  me !  " 

"  Poor  boy !    I'll  see  what  more  I  can  do  for  you." 

"  For  Heaven's  sake,  no.  You've  done  quite  enough  al- 
ready— more  than  enough." 

When  he  was  outside  he  did  not  know  whether  to  be 
furious  or  amused.  His  visit  had  decided  nothing.  It 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  337 

had  simply  made  the  whole  thing  seem  ridiculous,  worse 
than  ever.  How  was  he  to  meet  this  foolish,  harmless 
girl,  Gretchen,  after  the  beautiful,  mischievous  woman  in 
her  tasteful  drawing  room  had  laughed  at  him,  her,  and  the 
whole  adventure  ?  "  Honored  Sir  and  Protector — "  he 
could  have  sunk  into  the  earth  with  shame.  Gustav  Wis- 
kotten  and  Gretchen  Zinters  in  daylight. 

"  Emily ! " 

"  What  is  it?  Oh,  Mabel!  I  could  hardly  breathe,  for 
terror ! " 

"  I  hope — for  joy Just  think,  God  heard  your 

prayer." 

"  Don't  speak  so  irreverently.     What  prayer  ?  " 

"  That  He  would — let  Gustav  do  some  foolish  thing." 

"Nothing  wicked  ?  ?' 

"  Oh,  no !  but  oh,  so  stupid ! "  She  flung  herself  into 
Emily's  arms  and  laughed  aloud. 

"  Imagine !  in  his  renewed  role  of  father  and  educator 
of  the  young,  full  of  this  new  happiness  and  importance, 
his  children  with  him  again,  and  the  hope  that  their 
mother  would  soon  follow,  to  see  his  happiness,  on  the 
eve  of  being  rewon,  menaced  by  the  heroine  of  an  insig- 
nificant adventure,  the  only  one  of  his  whole  long  grass 
widowhood,  appearing  to  remind  him  of  a  moment's  weak- 
ness." 

"Gustav?" 

"  For  five  minutes  he  played  at  life,  this  splendid,  un- 
tamed bear.  And  in  spite  of  his  disguise  was  immediately 
recognized  as  a  bear  by  a  silly  girl,  who  thought  to  lead 
him  by  the  nose  and  make  him  dance." 

"Who  was  she?" 

"  Gretchen  Zinters." 

"  No,  really  ?  She  seems  to  like  to  keep  in  the  family," 
said  Emily,  relieved. 


338  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

"  Why,  you  dear  thing,  can  you  really  treat  the  matter 
sensibly?  You  are  smiling,  laughing — Emily,  you're  a 
wonder ! " 

"  Did  you  expect  me  to  get  on  my  high  horse?  "  laughed 
Emily.  "Am  I  so  ugly,  or  so  petty?  What  then  would 
the  long  six  months'  separation  have  taught  me?  He 
might  have  made  love  to  half  a  dozen.  I  was  not  there. 
But  now  I'm  here  again." 

"  Yes,  you  are  here  again,  now." 

Mabel  looked  wonderingly  into  the  face  of  her  sister- 
in-law,  reading  in  it  the  humor  of  dignity,  and  the  dignity 
of  humor.  She  held  in  her  arms  a  woman  who  was  ready 
to  go  as  far,  perhaps  even  farther  than  she  would  have 
gone  herself. 

"  What  are  you  going  to  do  about  it  ?  " 

"  I  shall  have  to  help  him,  I  suppose." 

"Tomorrow?" 

"  Today,  if  it  were  possible." 

"  Fraulein  Zinters  has  announced  her  visit  for  tomor- 
row, and  poor  Gustav  is  nearly  off  his  head  with  worry. 
He  had  entirely  forgotten  the  little  adventure,  and  is 
thoroughly  ashamed  of  it  now." 

"  I'll  help  him  to  forget  it.  Mabel— I'll— yes,  I'll  be 
there.  Now  tell  me  the  whole  thing." 

Mabel  began  embroidering  dramatically.  She  pictured 
Gustav  as  the  protector  of  an  ingenue;  Schiller  in  one, 
great,  clumsy  hand,  a  powder  puff  in  the  other,  head  full 
of  the  factory,  heart  faithful  to  his  wife ;  rattled  on  thus, 
till  Emily  closed  her  mouth  with  her  fingers. 

"  You  know  you  don't  believe  it,  yourself " 

She  wandered  through  the  room,  straightening  here  a 
rug,  there  a  pillow,  looking  straight  before  her,  now  red, 
now  pale. 

"  Do  you  want  anything,  Emily  ?  " 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  339 

"  Could  I  use  the  telephone?  " 

"  Of  course ;  come  along  with  me  into  William's  study. 
Whom  do  you  want  to  call?  " 

"  I  have  only  a  few  traveling  clothes  with  me.  I  should 
like  to  have  a  few  dresses  sent  up  on  approval." 

"  That's  a  splendid  idea !    I  had  not  thought  of  that." 

"  I  should  not  like  to  contrast  too  unfavorably  with  the 
lady." 

"  Of  course  not.  That's  your  only  reason,  isn't  it? 
Don't  look  at  me  so  shyly.  See,  I'm  telephoning  already." 

Till  late  that  evening  they  were  busy  trying  on  the 
dresses.  The  two  women  were  like  children — beautiful, 
vain  children,  anxious  to  please  for  the  sheer  joy  of  pleas- 
ing. They  had  sent  away  the  girl  who  brought  the  things  ; 
they  "  wanted  to  be  alone  with  the  girdle  of  Aphrodite," 
Mabel  explained,  parodying. 

They  sank  down  into  the  midst  of  these  treasures,  arms 
and  shoulders  bare,  looking  critically  at  color  and  cut, 
sometimes  admiring,  sometimes  jeering,  doing  and  un- 
doing their  hair  to  find  the  most  becoming  way.  Emily 
decided  upon  a  Princess  dress  of  dark-green  cloth,  with 
wide  Valenciennes  lace  falling  from  the  shoulders  to  the 
breast.  There  was  no  other  trimming,  but  the  cut  showed 
off  her  figure  to  perfection.  Emily  stood  looking  excit- 
edly into  the  mirror.  A  new  creature  looked  out  at  her, 
confused  but  rejoicing  in  her  beauty. 

"  Child,  you  have  taste !  " 

"  It's  so  simple  !  " 

"  That's  just  why  it  is  perfect — you — Eve!  You  know 
that  dress  brings  out  all  your  points." 

"  I'll  choose  another." 

"Don't  you  dare!" 

She  had  had  no  such  intention.  Folding  her  arms  above 
her  head,  she  laughed  across  at  her  sister-in-law. 


340  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

"  I'm  losing  an  adorer.  I  think  I'm  really  rather  fool- 
ish," said  Mabel. 

Next  morning  Emily  Wiskotten  went  down  the  steep 
street  into  the  town.  She  met  a  friend  or  two,  and  greeted 
them  amiably,  as  though  she  had  seen  them  quite  lately, 
continuing  calmly  on  her  way.  Her  heart  no  longer  beat 
fearfully,  the  sun  shone  and  its  light  was  reflected  in  her 
face. 

"  Good  morning ! "  she  nodded,  to  the  porter,  as  though 
just  back  from  a  walk,  and  her  glance  flew  through  the 
gate  to  the  factory. 

"  Oh,  is  it  you,  Frau  Wiskotten?  "  stammered  the  man, 
and  snatched  off  his  hat. 

"  A  young  lady  will  come  presently  and  ask  for  my 
husband.  Have  her  shown  to  the  house.  You  need  not 
inform  my  husband  of  her  arrival." 

"  Herr  Wiskotten  told  me ;  he  said  I  was  to  let  him 
know." 

"  That   is   no  longer  necessary." 

"  Very  well,  Frau  Wiskotten." 

She  went  into  the  house,  up  the  stairs  to  the  living  room. 
Once  she  stopped,  touched  the  banisters  and  walls  in  a 
lingering  caress,  then  went  on.  Without  knocking  she 
entered  the  room;  it  was  empty.  From  the  children's 
nursery  came  words  of  command.  Gustav  was  drilling 
his  small  sister.  Emily  gazed  around  the  room  with  great, 
yearning  eyes ;  her  lips  trembled.  Everything  was  in  its 
place,  only  she,  the  mistress  of  it  all,  had  been  absent. 

"  Now,  now,  I'll  make  up  for  it !  " 

There  was  her  husband's  armchair,  with  its  gaudy  head- 
rest, which  she  had  knitted  for  him.  How  tasteless  it  was, 
in  shape  and  color!  But  he  had  loved  to  rest  his  head 
on  it.  Now  she  sat  down  in  the  chair  and  pressed  her 
burning  cheeks  to  the  hard  pillows.  Then  she  raised  her 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  341 

head,  took  off  her  hat  and  coat,  smoothed  her  hair  and 
listened,  the  joy  of  homecoming  in  her  eyes,  to  the  shout- 
ing of  the  children. 

"  Gustav — Emily !  "     The  noise  stopped  instantly. 

"  Here,  come  along  in  here !  " 

A  sound  of  running,  the  door  flew  open,  and  breathlessly 
the  children  flung  themselves  upon  her. 

"  Mamma !    Mamma !    Have  you  been  good  ?  " 

"  Yes,  you  noisy  little  things !  I'm  going  to  stay 
too." 

"  Aunt  Anna !    Aunt  Anna !  " 

Anna  Kolsch  hastened  in  from  the  kitchen.  Emily  held 
out  her  hand  to  her. 

"  Don't  ask  any  questions — I'm  here." 

"  I'll  run  to  the  factory— I  must  tell  him !  " 

"  No,  stay  here.  Thank  Heaven,  I'm  really  and  truly 
home  again ! " 

"  That's  what  makes  you  look  so  happy.  Emily,  I 
must  call  him!  He  must  see  your  joy." 

"  Wait — he  will  come  later.  First,  I  must  receive  a 
guest.  Come  back  presently,  Anna.  There's  a  knock. 
Stay  in  the  kitchen.  Come  in!" 

Anna  disappeared.  On  the  threshold  stood  Gretchen 
Zinters. 

"  Come  in,  won't  you?  "    Gretchen  hesitated. 

"  I  think  I  have  made  a  mistake,"  she  said,  looking 
round.  "  I  wanted  to  see  Herr  Wiskotten." 

"  He  is  still  in  the  factory,  but  will  come  presently. 
Please  come  in." 

The  girl  came  in  at  last,  and  Emily  shut  the  door. 

"  Won't  you  sit  down  ?    My  husband  is  very  busy." 

Gretchen  gazed  at  the  beautiful  dress,  the  rich  lace, 
then  her  eyes  passed  on  to  the  head,  with  its  heavy  masses 
of  hair,  to  the  face  with  its  delicate  features.  Her  nos- 


342  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

trils  quivered.  There  was  something  uncomfortable  in  the 
air,  which  contrasted  too  obviously  with  that  in  her  fa- 
ther's tavern^  All  dressed  up  as  she  was,  she  felt  like 
a  shopgirl  beside  this  exquisite,  smiling  lady. 

"  I'll  go  away." 

"  But  you  wrote  to  my  husband.  You  pleased  him ; 
he  would  like  to  help  you." 

"  That's  no  longer  necessary  !  "  she  burst  out. 

"  No?    You  came  for  something  else,  then?  " 

Gretchen  bit  her  lips ;  her  hands  bent  the  handle  of  the 
parasol. 

"  Won't  you  sit  down  ?  Children,  bring  a  chair.  These 
are  Herr  Wiskotten's  children,  Fraulein  Zinters." 

Gretchen  looked  furiously  at  the  children,  who  gazed 
at  her  in  astonishment. 

"  Run  away  now  to  the  nursery.  But  don't  make  too 
much  noise.  Now,  Fraulein  Zinters,  let  us  talk  this  matter 
over." 

"He  deceived  me!" 

"He— who?" 

"  Herr  Wiskotten,  of  course." 

"  Well,  that  is  better  than  the  other  way  about,  isn't 
it?" 

"  He  kissed  me,  I'd  have  you  know !  " 

"  He  has  excellent  taste,  and  I'm  sure  that  you  kissed 
him  back.  I  must  warn  you,  Fraulein,  the  Wiskottens  are 
a  terrible  lot!" 

"  I  won't  be  laughed  at." 

"Who  ever  thought  of  such  a  thing?" 

"  He  told  me  nothing  of  a  wife  and  children." 

"  No?  "  laughed  Emily.  "  Perhaps  it  was  not  Gustav 
at  all;  perhaps  it  was  Ewald." 

Gretchen  blushed  crimson.  With  bent  head  she  meas- 
ured the  space  which  separated  her  from  the  door. 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  343 

"  If  your  time  is  limited,  Fraulein,  I  will  have  my  hus- 
band called." 

"  No,  no !  I  only  wanted  to  tell  him  that  I  was  going 
to  be  married  to  a  man  in  Neuss." 

"  You've  given  up  the  stage,  then  ?  " 

"  For  the  moment,  anyhow,"  she  answered. 

"  That  is  a  pity ;  I  had  meant  to  go  with  you  to  Diissel- 
dorf  and  procure  you  a  hearing.  My  husband  must  not 
be  allowed  to  forget  his  promises." 

"  He  promised  me  laces  too ;  as  many  as  I  wanted." 

"  Men  are  so  forgetful,  Fraulein !  At  times  they  will 
promise  a  woman  the  stars  from  heaven  just  for  a  kiss, 
and  when  they  get  it  they  forget  even  a  package  of  laces. 
You'll  find  that  is  the  way  with  my  husband  too ;  but  you 
shall  have  your  laces,  just  the  same.  I'll  see  to  that.  They 
will  do  for  your  trousseau,  Fraulein." 

Gretchen  began  to  feel  at  her  ease  again.  She  raised 
her  head,  with  a  bold,  hostile  look. 

"  I'll  count  upon  them." 

"  Shall  I  give  my  husband  any  message?  " 

"  He  doesn't  deserve  one,  and  I've  wasted  all  the  money 
for  the  journey.  Is  there  nothing  to  see  in  Barmen?  " 

"  In  Barmen  itself,  little ;  but  the  people  of  Elberf eld 
say  there  is  much  to  see  in  Elberfeld." 

"  Then  I'll  go  straight  back  to  Diisseldorf.  Please  ex- 
cuse the  liberty  I  took  in  coming." 

"  It  has  given  me  much  pleasure  to  meet  you,  Fraulein !  " 

Gretchen  Zinters  hurried  down  the  stairs  and  out  of  the 
house.  As  she  was  going  the  noon  whistle  blew;  it 
startled  her.  Out  of  the  factory  hundreds  of  men  poured ; 
men  with  faces  upon  which  toil  had  left  its  mark  looked 
at  her  as  though  asking  mockingly  what  this  gay  but- 
terfly was  doing  here  in  work  hours.  A  tall,  rawboned 
woman  with  a  wrinkled  face  and  piercing  eyes  stood  at  the 


344  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

gate  and  looked  her  up  and  down.  She  knew  those  eyes. 
To  try  to  escape  them  she  slipped  into  the  crowd  of 
workmen. 

"  She  looks  like  a  chorus  girl ! "  said  old  Frau  Wis- 
kotten,  grumbling  to  her  son  August. 

As  the  courtyard  was  emptying  Gustav  came  up  from 
the  Wupper.  He  went  to  the  porter's  lodge. 

"Nobody  asked  for  me?" 

"  I  sent  the  young  lady  up  to  the  house." 

"  But  I  told  you  to  call  me." 

"  Your  wife  said  that  was  no  longer  necessary." 

"  Who  said  that?  " 

"  Your  wife,  when  she  came  in  this  morning.  She  said 

when "  Gustav  heard  no  more.  He  was  already  in 

the  house.  He  rushed  upstairs,  two  steps  at  a  time.  For 
an  instant  the  thought  of  Gretchen  passed  through  his 
mind,  but  she  was  as  instantly  forgotten.  Devil  take  her 
— Barmen — the  factory — yes,  the  factory  even, — Emily 
was  here !  He  was  not  to  be  without  her  another  day, 
not  even  another  hour.  It  had  been  a  dog's  life  for  a 
man  of  his  caliber,  all  this  time  without  his  wife.  Bet- 
ter even  without  work.  He  laughed  aloud,  laughed  so  loud 
that  the  sound  of  it  rang  all  through  the  house. 


CHAPTER  IX 

EMILY  WISKOTTEN  stood  by  the  window,  hand  clutching 
the  bars,  her  ^hin  resting  on  her  hands.  It  had  been  harder 
than  she  had  expected,  but  the  first  round  was  over  and 
she  had  won.  She  realized  now  what  a  strain  it  had  been, 
but  she  felt  too  that  this  victory  gave  her  self-confidence, 
a  feeling  of  assurance.  The  sound  of  her  husband's  laugh 
thrilled  her.  Now  for  the  second  encounter !  She  forced 
herself  to  stifle  the  wild  emotion  which  seized  her,  beat- 
ing back  her  heart  throb  and  her  head  whirl.  Gustav 
stood  at  the  door,  his  laugh  dying  on  his  lips.  He  saw, 
standing  by  the  window,  a  lady  whose  slim  figure  was 
accentuated  by  a  charming  dress.  He  saw  a  lady  where 
he  had  hoped  and  expected  to  see  his  wife. 

"  Emily?  " — Then  he  saw  the  sunlight  on  her  hair, 
bringing  out  the  red-gold  gleam. 

"  Emily "  he  said  again,  timidly.     She  loosed  her 

hand  from  the  bars  and  turned.  Were  those  Emily's 
eyes?  There  was  a  happy  girlishness  in  them,  which  she 
had  not  shown  even  as  a  bride,  in  them  and  in  her  attitude, 
her  gentle  movements  as  she  turned  to  him.  It  confused 
him,  took  away  all  his  courage  for  the  attack.  He  did 
not  dare  to  approach  her  in  his  working  clothes;  she 
looked  like  Mabel,  only  more  beautiful. 

"  I  hardly — recognized  you,"  he  murmured. 

"  Won't  you  shake  hands,  Gustav?  "  He  stretched  out 
his  hands  and  looked  at  them.  "  Wait  a  second ;  I'll  wash 
them  first."  He  tried  to  pass  her  to  go  into  his  bed- 
room. 

345 


346  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

"  I  locked  the  door,"  she  said,  softly. 

"  But  why, — what  in  the  world " 

"  So  that  we  might  not  be  disturbed." 

"While  we  have  it  out?" 

"  I'm  not  afraid ;  scold  all  you  want  to." 

"Who?  I?— You  locked  the  door.  Then  it  was  not 
for  that " 

"  I  thought  you — you  would  rather  have  me  alone." 

"  Alone"  he  repeated,  with  bated  breath,  and  looked 
down.  A  shudder  ran  through  his  arms  find  shoulders. 

"  Gustav,"  she  said,  "  I'll  never  do  it  again." 

The  trembling  reached  his  knees,  his  head  swam. 

"  Because,  because  without  me  you  might  do  foolish 
things,  which  I  could  not  always  set  right." 

"Will  you  be  quiet  at  once?— Child,  child!  Oh,  my 
darling!" 

"  You  are  stifling  me !  " 

"  I'll  kiss  you  to  life  again.  Heavens,  your  lips !  Kiss 
me  again." 

"  Gustav " 

"  Do  I  hurt  you?  Wait;  I'm  only  making  up  for  lost 
time.  You  owe  me  this ;  don't  stop  me !  Fancy  running 
away  and  robbing  me  of  all  this " 

"I   didn't   know " 

"  You  know  now,  though  ?  " 

"Yes;  oh,  yes!" 

"  Emily,  dearest, — wife — is  this  really  you  or  am  I 
dreaming?"  He  sat  down  in  the  armchair,  holding  her 
still  in  his  arms.  She  pressed  her  head  against  his  breast. 

"  Take  it  as  you  will ! " 

"Well,  then,  it's  both." 

She  lay  absolutely  still.  His  hands  caressed  her  with 
a  gentleness  striking  in  so  strong  a  man. 

"  Is  it  the  dress?  "  she  asked. 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  347 

"  No,  it's  you.  If  it  weren't  you,  though,  it  would  be 
the  dress.  It's  a  beauty  !  " 

"  I  have  run  you  into  debt ;  you'll  have  to  pay  for  it 
later." 

"  God  be  praised,  I  have  a  frivolous  wife ! " 

"  The  wife  does  not  want  to  outdo  her  husband." 

"  There,  Emily,  don't  let's  talk  of  that  any  more !  Not 
now.  Stay  there,  dearest,  just  as  you  are.  I  must  realize 
you,  realize  that  you  are  actually  back  again,  so  gay,  so 
matter-of-fact.  I'll  jprove  that  I  am  grateful,  Emily." 

She  lay  there  on  his  breast ;  only  her  arms  moved,  seek- 
ing his  head,  wound  themselves  around  his  neck. 

The  children,  wondering  that  no  one  came  to  call  them 
to  dinner,  crept  along  to  peep  into  the  dining  room,  and 
found  the  door  locked. 

"Let  them  wait  a  bit;  this  hour  is  ours." 

"  Ours,  ours  for  all  time,  I  promise  you,  Gustav !  Now 
I  am  really  and  truly  your  wife,  who  loves  you  because 
you  are  just  what  you  are." 

"  Emily,  let  me  look  into  your  eyes.  What,  tears — be- 
cause of  me?  Ah,  I  could  weep  too,  because " 

"  Don't  blame  yourself.  The  woman  is  responsible  for 
everything  that  goes  wrong  in  marriage.  She  has  time 
and  to  spare,  while  the  man  works.  It  is  her  duty  to  be 
sweet  and  beautiful,  and  clever  too.  When  men  come 
home  tired  from  their  work  they  need  cosseting.  I  have 
been  very  much  to  blame." 

"Emily,  what  can  I  say?  You  have  made  a  good  use 
of  our  separation,  while  I — I " 

"  We'll  let  the  children  in  now."  She  laid  her  hand 
on  his  restless,  twitching  eyes  and  kissed  his  lips ;  then  she 
rose  quickly  and  opened  the  door. 

"  Come  in,  babies  !    Papa's  waiting." 

He   seized   them   by  the   collar,  lifting  them   into   his 


348  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

arms,  succeeding  meanwhile  in  controlling  his  emotion. 
That  was  what  she  had  meant,  he  knew. 

"  Anna ! "  cried  Gustav,  to  her,  as  she  came  in  to  set 
the  table.  "  I  am  afraid  I  shall  have  to  give  you  notice. 
Bring  along  your  account  book,  little  Samaritan ! " 

"  Anna,  he's  going  to  be  a  model  husband." 

"  No,  Anna,  it's  she  who's  going  to  be  a  model  wife. 
Which  of  us  are  you  going  to  believe?  " 

"  Oho !  you  two  are  friends,  allied  against  me.  I've 
fallen  into  nice  hands." 

"  Herr  Wiskotten,  you  know  more  about  running  a 
factory  than  any  man  in  Barmen,  but " 

"  Anna,  what  you  were  going  to  say  is  not  Christian. 
A  beginner  needs  assistance."  She  held  out  her  hand. 

"  Girl,  you  ought  to  have  been  a  Wiskotten." 

"  That's  the  highest  praise  you  can  give  me." 

"  No,  not  exactly ;  but  it's  good  to  know  that,  besides 
God  and  the  Wiskottens,  there  are  people  worthy  of 
respect." 

"  I  want  to  go  and  see  your  mother,"  said  Emily,  after 
dinner. 

"  There's  plenty  of  time  for  that,"  he  answered,  in 
surprise. 

"  Later  on  I'll  come  to  you  in  the  factory.    Shall  I?  " 

"  That's  right ;  make  a  clean  sweep.  My  wife  must 
hold  her  head  high." 

Father  Wiskotten  had  retired  to  take  a  nap,  and  Emily 
found  her  mother-in-law  alone.  She  was  sitting  in  a  cane- 
chair  by  the  window,  reading  her  favorite,  "  Springs  of 
Living  Water  for  a  Christian  Household." 

"  Good  afternoon,  Mother !  " 

Frau  Wiskotten  looked  up,  set  her  glasses  more  firmly 
on  her  nose,  and  took  in  the  fact  that  it  was  indeed 
Emily. 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  349 

"  You're  quite  a  stranger !  But  that  does  not  matter 
now.  Shall  you  come  in  every  day  again?  "  Her  wrin- 
kled features  showed  no  sign  of  surprise. 

"  Yes,  Mother,  I  shall  run  in  every  day  again  now. 
How  is  father?  " 

"  Thank  you,  none  too  well ;  but  we  have  a  better  life 
to  look  forward  to.  Sit  down." 

The  old  lady  laid  aside  her  "  Springs  of  Living  Water," 
took  off  her  glasses,  and  folded  her  hands. 

"  What's  Gustav  about?  I've  not  been  too  pleased  with 
him  lately." 

"  You'll  be  pleased  with  him  again,  now,  Mother !  I'll 
see  to  that." 

"  When  the  husband  scolds  and  the  wife  weeps,  the 
devil  rides  the  household." 

"  Marriages  of  that  sort  are  very  sad,  Mother." 

The  old  lady  looked  sharply  at  her  daughter-in-law, 
wiped  a  speck  of  dust  from  the  table  with  the  flat  of  her 
hand,  then  folded  it  over  the  other  again. 

"  I'm  glad  you  agree  with  me.     How  are  the  children  ?  " 

"  They'll  be  over  to  see  you  tomorrow.  Gustav  wants 
to  be  an  admiral." 

"  I  don't  like  the  water ;  there's  nothing  to  be  gained 
that  way,  and  it's  a  dangerous  calling.  See  to  it  that 
the  boy  becomes  a  mechanical  engineer;  we  need  one  in 
the  factory." 

"Yes,  Mother;  just  as  you  needed  Ewald.  All  is  well 
with  him  now.  He's  given  up  painting  pictures,  except 
as  a  recreation.  He's  working  at  designing,  and  Pro- 
fessor Neudorfer  says  he  has  a  most  delicate  and  original 
genius.  In  the  last  few  weeks  he  has  surpassed  himself. 
Did  Paul  tell  you?" 

A  short,  silent  nod,  but  the  severe  features  softened, 
the  eyes  grew  gentle,  pensive. 


350  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

"  Mother,  we  have  to  buy  our  experience  if  we  mean 
to  amount  to  anything.  Otherwise  we  should  always 
imagine  we  would  be  happier  elsewhere,  and  thus  lose  the 
happiness  we  have." 

"  God  is  omniscient." 

"  Yes,  Mother ;  but  God  is  to  be  found  in  man.  True 
knowledge  is  therefore  in  ourselves." 

"Who  can  say  that  he  knows  God's  ways?" 

"  Mother,  for  six  long,  weary  months  I  have  been  think- 
ing things  over.  If  we  may  not  hope  to  understand  God's 
ways,  all  the  more  reason  why  we  should  seek  to  under- 
stand our  own.  My  road  leads  where  Gustav's  leads,  and 
his  where  mine  leads.  I  am  trying  to  realize  religion 
from  its  very  essence,  not  from  its  results." 

"  You  have  grown  very  wise,  Emily." 

"  It's  when  one  feels  ill  that  one  most  longs  for  life." 

"What  about  heaven?" 

"  We  must  praise  God  in  all  His  works.  You  do  your- 
self, Mother!  In  your  joy  in  your  family,  in  the  factory. 
I  want  my  part  in  all  that." 

The  old  lady  looked  straight  before  her. 

"  There's  something  wrong  in  it,  but  it  sounds  plausi- 
ble and  sincere.  One  hears  so  few  pleasant  things,  I'll 

take  your  word  for  it.  Why,  there's  father "  Emily 

rose  quickly. 

"What's  this?  What's  this?  Isn't  that  Emily?  I 
thought  I  recognized  her  voice." 

"  I  didn't  mean  to  disturb  you,  Father." 

"What  nonsense!  Disturb  me?  A  good  thing  never 
comes  amiss!  Child,  child,  I'm  glad  to  see  you!  I  must 
give  you  a  good  kiss." 

Emily  felt  really  at  home  now  and  wanted  Gustav  to 
share  her  joy.  After  drinking  coffee  with  the  old  people 
she  would  wait  no  longer. 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  351 

"Are  you  coming,  Mother,  to  the  factory?  I  prom- 
ised Gustav  to  meet  him  there  this  afternoon." 

"  Coming?  Of  course  I  am  coming.  There'd  be  a  fine 
uproar  in  the  winding  room  if  I  didn't.  Good-by,  Father ! 
I'll  be  back  presently.  There  is  '  Springs  of  Living 
Water.'  " 

"  You  think  of  everything,  my  dear!  "  said  the  old  man, 
and  winked  at  Emily.  August  was  at  work  in  the  office. 

"  Hello,  Emily,  how  are  you?  "  He  spoke  as  though 
she  had  never  been  away. 

"  Gustav  is  with  Fritz  in  the  laboratory.*'  She  went 
across  the  yard  to  the  dye  works.  Her  children  were 
playing  in  the  ashes  near  the  furnace  room,  while  old 
Christian  found  time  to  feed  both  the  furnace  and  their 
eager  little  mouths.  When  he  caught  sight  of  Emily  he 
saluted  with  his  shovel. 

"  Could  you  wait  a  moment  and  let  me  look  at  you  ? 
You  have  evidently  found  the  secret  of  youth;  I  wish 
you'd  give  my  wife  the  recipe." 

She  nodded  to  him,  laughing;  stroked  the  hair  of  her 
busy  children,  and  went  on  through  the  dye  works,  through 
the  thick,  white  vapor  up  to  the  laboratory. 

"Hello,  Fritz!" 

"  Well,  of  all  persons,  Emily !  Turn  round,  child, 
again !  Tiptop !  And  the  best  part  of  it  is  you  can 
wear  it.  The  dress  doesn't  wear  you." 

"Is  that  all?" 

"  Not  by  a  long  way.  There's  old  Gustav  frowning 
like  a  bulldog.  Doesn't  matter,  I'm  going  to  kiss  you 
all  the  same.  There !  Upon  my  word,  you've  learned  to 
kiss  too ! " 

Gustav  stood  looking  on,  his  hands  in  his  pockets. 

"  Fritz,  my  friend,  if  your  presence  here  is  not  actu- 
ally necessary " 


352  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

"  All  right,  all  right ;  I'm  going.  Jealous  old  thing ! 
What  do  you  think  one  allows  one's  brothers  to  marry 
such  pretty  women  for  if " 

Gustav  took  his  hands  out  of  his  pockets.  The  door 
banged. 

"  Now  my  arms  are  free." 

"  I'm  coming  to  them." 

"Emily!" 

Arms  around  his  neck  she  whispered,  "  I  can  hardly 
believe  it ! " 

"What?" 

"  That  it's  all  so  glorious." 

"  Now,  at  least,  I  know  what  I'm.  working  for." 

"For  what,  then?" 

"  So  that  your  eyes  may  keep  bright,  your  hands  soft, 
for  me.  Working  with  no  definite  aim,  working  just  for 
work's  sake,  is  such  a  poor,  empty  thing!  But  to  think 
that  I  am  weaving  a  crown,  a  crown  to  lay  on  your  loos- 
ened hair,  sweetheart,  when  night  falls !  That's  the  only 
kind  of  poetry  I  understand,  and  in  which  I'll  compete 
even  with  Goethe  and  Schiller." 

"  Don't  be  too  good  to  me,  Gustav !  It  was  from  this 
very  room  that  I  went  when  I  left  you." 

"  Only  people  who  have  made  one  another  suffer  know 
what  love  is." 

"  I  have  suffered  for  your  sake,  Gustav ! " 

"  This  very  morning,  perhaps  ?  " 

"  This  morning — why  this  morning?  " 

"  I  only  meant,"  he  went  on,  thoughtfully,  "  that  you 
had  received  the  visit " 

"  Oh,  the  girl  from  Diisseldorf ;  Fraulein  Zinters, 
wasn't  it?  That  was  fun !  " 

"Yes,  yes,  of  course!  It  wasn't  serious,  but" — he 
cleared  his  throat — "  how  did  you  get  rid  of  her  ?  " 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  353 

"  I  explained  to  her  that  if  she  wanted  to  go  on  the 
stage  I  would  do  all  I  could  for  her.  You  had  so  little 
time,  I  explained;  wasn't  that  right?" 

"  And  then " 

"  She  seemed  to  have  given  up  the  idea.  She  told  me 
she  was  going  to  marry  some  man  in  Neuss." 

"  That  was  all?  " 

"  Oh,  yes !  She  said  you  had  promised  her  a  bit  of 
lace.  You  really  must  send  it  to  her;  I  promised  that 
you  would." 

"  Emily,  Emily,  was  that  why  you  came  home  this 
morning?  " 

"Was  what  why?" 

"  To  help  me  out  of  this  hole?  "    She  patted  his  cheek. 

"  You  think  you're  quite  interesting,  don't  you,  with 
your  little  adventures  ?  " 

"  Emily,  you — you  darling !  " 

"  You  really  think  I  am?  " 

"  Just  let  anyone  say  you're  not  I  Now  let  me  show 
you  the  factory;  it's  nearly  dark  already." 

She  did  not  hang  lovingly  on  his  arm,  but  walked  be- 
side him,  with  a  grave,  serious  face.  This  pleased  the  work- 
man in  him.  She  let  him  show  her  the  new  Wiskotten 
process,  which  gave  the  sheen  and  luster  of  silk  to  cotton, 
and  the  new  looms  for  Ewald's  patterns. 

"  Those  are  the  looms  which  ruined  your  father." 

"  Did  he  treat  you  very  badly  ?  " 

"  He  nearly  ruined  us,  but  suddenly  we  tripped  him ; 
tripped  him  badly.  Now  he's  down." 

"  Shall  you  let  him  stay  down?  " 

"  Would  you  rather  it  had  been  your  husband  ?  " 

"  I'd  rather  see  Jeremiah  Scharwachter  bankrupt  than 
that  a  hair  of  your  head  should  be  hurt." 

"  No,  I  will  not  let  him  stay  down.     He  is  to  sell  for 


354  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

us  on  commission;  the  world  is  large  and  opportunities 
unlimited." 

She  pressed  closer  to  him  as  she  walked,  felt  unob- 
trusively for  his  hand  and  held  it  in  hers. 

They  visited  the  Wupper.  The  stream  which  came 
from  the  dye  works  rushed  whirling,  many-colored,  down 
the  dark  waters.  Gustav  glanced  at  it  affectionately. 

"  Can.you  believe  that  I  consider  that  black  surge  my 
best  friend?  If  I  were  to  stand  by  the  Italian  lakes,  I 
should  be  homesick  for  the  Wupper." 

"Because  it's  a  black  soldier  of  toil?" 

"  Because  it  fights  its  way  undaunted  through  a  thou- 
sand obstacles  to  reach  the  Rhine." 

"And  it  gets  there." 

"  If  it  were  a  man,  I  should  say  that  is  what  makes 
the  victory  worth  while.  Easy  victories  are  not  thought 
much  of  in  the  Wupper  valley;  people  want  to  feel  the 
strength  of  the  man  behind,  then  they'll  believe  in  him, 
stick  to  him  through  thick  and  thin." 

"  The  men  of  Wupper  are  a  fine  race,"  she  said, 
proudly. 

"  You're  right,"  laughed  Gustav ;  "  they  love  the  smell 
of  roses  all  the  more  because  their  own  clothes  reek  of 
sweat." 

"  Do  you  think  that  strange?  " 

"  Not  at  all.  It's  because  he  feels  that  he  has  earned 
the  right  to  smell  the  rose ;  that  play  comes  after  work." 

"  Gustav,  that  shall  be  the  way  with  us." 

"We'll  earn  our  joy,  the  right  to  love,  each  day." 

"  You'll  bring  it  to  me." 

"  And  you  to  me."  As  they  turned  they  saw  Paul  behind 
them. 

"  Do  you  know,  Emily,"  said  Gustav,  softly,  "  he  knew 
the  secret  all  along.  He  had  always  considered  work 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  355 

as  the  background  upon  which  beauty  and  light  can  be 
displayed  to  most  advantage;  he  weaves  away  contentedly 
enough  on  the  background."  He  called  out  to  him,  "  Were 
you  looking  for  me  ?  " 

"  I  4on't  want  to  disturb  your  enjoyment  of  Nature. 
Such  moments  are  sacred." 

"  Come,  Paul,  we  have  made  our  vows  already." 

"  I  congratulate  you ! "  said  Paul,  simply,  and  held  out 
his  hand.  The  whistle  blew,  the  day's  work  was  over. 
Gustav  and  Emily  looked  into  one  another's  eyes,  ques- 
tioning, smiling,  assenting. 

"  Au  revoir!  "  nodded  Paul. 

"  Was  it  a  business  matter?  " 

"  Yes,  that's  why  I  am  not  staying." 

"  Anything  important  ?  " 

"  I  think  it  may  become  so.  Tomorrow,  Gustav,  when 
you're  in  the  mood " 

"An  important  matter — tomorrow — in  the  mood! — 
That's  something  new — quite  new — in  the  mood — when  it 
has  to  do  with  the  factory."  Emily  laughed. 

"  Come  with  us  now,  Paul,  won't  you?  " 

"  Willingly.  We  sha'n't  be  disturbed.  Perhaps  Gustav 
will  laugh  at  me." 

"  We'll  see  about  that.    I  never  laugh  beforehand." 

The  children  were  put  to  bed.  The  grown-ups  had  cold 
meat  and  beer  for  supper,  to  save  time.  Afterward  they 
all  three  sat  around  the  table.  Gustav  gave  his  brother 
a  light  and  looked  across  at  him  keenly. 

"  The  idea,"  began  Paul,  "  is  not  my  own." 

"Ah,  an  idea!" 

"  Ewald  and  I  thought  it  out  together." 

"  You're  both  pretty  shrewd ;  I'm  interested." 

"  We  thought  that  a  fashion  book " 

"  Are  you  mad  ?     Go  on,  though." 


356  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

"  A  fashion  book,  the  designs  of  which  should  be  pat- 
ented and  the  rights  of  the  text  reserved.  In  other  words, 
a  new  way  of  increasing  the  fame  of  Wiskotten  Brothers." 

Gustav  leaned  back  and  stretched  his  legs. 

"  Go  on ;  that  has  possibilities." 

"  In  this  way,  Gustav.  Ewald,  when  he  has  finished 
his  studies,  will  enter  the  firm  as  designer;  that's  settled. 
He  is  already  working  exclusively  for  us.  He  will  prob- 
ably go  to  Paris  and  Brussels  for  a  term  or  two,  but 
distance  is  nothing  nowadays.  He  will  design  fashion 
plates,  ribbons,  laces,  passementeries,  and  whatever  new 
things  we  may  produce  in  the  factory.  For  we  are  not 
going  to  stand  still  now,  that  much  is  certain." 

"  No,"  said  Gustav,  and  blew  a  ring  of  smoke. 

"  In  order  to  make  ourselves  quite  independent  of  mid- 
dlemen, and  to  draw  the  attention  of  the  public  directly 
to  us,  Ewald  will  use  his  artistic  talent  to  design  costumes 
whose  lace  and  ribbon  trimmings  are  the  attraction,  show- 
ing clearly  the  grace  and  elegance  of  the  wares  of  Wis- 
kotten Brothers.  A  sample  will  accompany  each  drawing. 
I  shall  write  the  text,  explaining  the  costumes  and  giving 
hints  to  form  their  taste,  showing  also  that  a  Wiskotten 
can  wield  a  pen.  We'll  get  into  touch  with  the  leading 
illustrated  journals  and  bring  out  one  book  as  supplement 
every  three  months.  Thus  it  will  come  into  the  hands  of 
women  and  girls  all  over  the  world.  The  Wiskotten  nov- 
elties will  be  asked  for  in  every  village,  and  the  costs 
covered  many  times  over  in  profits.  There,  that's  all !  " 

Gustav  had  long  ago  laid  aside  his  cigar,  drawn  back 
his  legs,  and  was  now  leaning  over  the  table.  He  had 
realized  how  far-reaching  the  idea  was,  and  his  business 
head  was  working  it  all  out. 

"  Boys,  I  beg  your  pardon !  To  think  that  art  should 
have  a  practical  side,  that  you  poetic  souls  should  realize 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  357 

it  for  the  factory,  the  firm,  the  family;  it's  too  much! 
There's  no  doubt  about  it,  you're  both  Wupper-born." 

"  Do  they  think  the  idea  a  good  one  ?  " 

"  Don't  tempt  me.  I  can't  go  over  with  you  to  Overam's 
to-nigh.t  and  drink  to  it.  Emily,  let's  have  a  bottle  of 
champagne!  Heavens  above!  Emily,  my  dear  child,  in 
my  excitement  I  had  forgotten  you  completely." 

"  But  I  haven't  forgotten  the  story  of  the  soldier  of 
toil." 

"  See,  see !  here  he  comes,  marching  forward.  In  the 
distance  he  sees  something  gleam  brightly,  something  he 
must  make  his  prey.  He  must  and  will  have  it,  that  you 
may  be  sure." 

Emily  leaned  against  him  with  closed  eyes.  "  You " 

Then  she  lifted  her  frock,  took  the  small  lamp,  and 
went  to  the  cellar  to  bring  the  bottle  of  champagne. 
She  set  the  glasses  down  in  front  of  the  men  and  poured 
the  wine. 

"And  YOU?" 

"  Today  I'll  drink  with  you." 

"  Your  health,  Paul ;  yours  and  Ewald's.  From  today 
you  both  belong  to  the  firm." 

"  Your  healths,  both  of  you ;  take  it  as  a  wedding 
present." 

"  If  you  are  going  to  be  impertinent,  out  with  you ! " 

"  Of  course,  now  the  business  is  settled,  I'm  in  the 
way ! " 

"  So  you  are,  you  poet,  you !    Drink  more  quickly." 

"  I  can  take  the  bottle  out  into  the  courtyard,  if  you 
like." 

"Oh,  indeed!  just  when  you've  made  me  want  some. 
Here,  shake  hands.  God  be  praised  that  the  family 
feeling  has  awakened  in  you." 

"  We  have  the  same  mother " 


358  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

"  And  father  too.  Don't  forget  him.  Without  him  life 
would  have  been  somewhat  dull." 

"  Shall  I  write  to  Ewald  that  you  consent?  " 

"The  day  after  tomorrow  is  father's  birthday.  Wil- 
liam will  be  back  by  then.  Write  Ewald  to  come  over 
to  wish  him  joy.  Not  as  a  prodigal  son,  for  he  brings 
a  gift.  Then  in  the  evening,  while  we  are  at  supper, 
you  can  expound  your  idea.  I  can  see  father's  pleasure 
already." 

"  Yet  the  thing  itself  means  nothing  to  him.  It  is  just 
because  we  do  it." 

"  There  is  no  greater  pleasure,"  said  Emily,  "  than 
to  see  those  you  love  happy.  The  joy  of  it  goes  to 
and  fro  like  a  pendulum,  from  heart  to  heart.  Am  I  not 
right?" 

"  Paul,  if  you  don't  go  home  at  once,  you'll  have  us  all 
spouting  poetry." 

Gustav  accompanied  him  downstairs,  and  locked  up  the 
house.  When  he  came  back  to  the  room  he  saw  Emily 
standing  by  the  lamp. 

"  Child,"  he  said,  and  his  eyes  shone,  "  that's  a  fine  idea 

that  those  boys  have !  If  we  can  carry  it  out ' '  She 

smiled,  raised  her  hand,  and  put  out  the  light.  He  heard 
nothing  but  the  soft  rustling  of  her  dress.  The  spring 
moonlight  gleamed  in  through  the  windows.  A  ray  of 
light  stretched  from  the  window  to  the  door,  behind  which 
it  disappeared,  as  though  it  had  left  silver  footprints  as 
it  passed.  His  eyes  opened  wide  in  the  darkness  and 
fixed  themselves  upon  the  silver  ray.  His  breast  rose  and 
fell.  He  felt  dreamily  happy,  like  a  boy;  as  though 
the  Christmas  angel  were  about  to  enter  by  the  door. 
Desire  grew  in  him,  then  sank  again  to  shy  veneration. 
Just  one  step  to  the  door,  only  one  step.  His  shyness 
melted  into  sheer  joy,  joy  which  swept  from  his  mind 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  359 

all  thought  of  work,  from  his  heart  everything  but 
Emily. 

"  Here  begins,"  he  said,  to  himself,  "  the  second  part 
of  the  story  of  the  soldier  of  toil." 

He  opened  the  door.  Here,  too,  was  the  ray  of  silver 
light,  but  in  the  light  stood  a  young  woman  in  white, 
who,  fixing  her  hair  for  the  night,  turned  toward  him  a 
pale  face  and  quietly  joyous  eyes. 

Night  settled  down  over  the  factory.  He  said  nothing. 
He  went  to  her,  gently,  softly;  gently  and  protectingly 
he  slipped  his  arms  about  her.  She  clung  to  him  like  a 
child,  and  he  pressed  his  face  to  her  cool,  soft  hair.  Out- 
side lay  the  tall  shadows  of  the  factory,  but  into  this 
room  they  could  not  enter.  It  was  filled  with  the  silver 
rays  of  the  Spring  moon. 

There  was  a  long,  deep  silence.  But  the  heart  beating 
against  his  told  Gustav  that  he  was  alive,  that  it  was  good 
to  be  alive,  and  wherefore  he  lived. 


CHAPTER  X 

"  HELIX),  Ewald,  how  are  you  ?  Come,  get  out  of  the 
train ! " 

"  Hello,  Paul !  It  was  good  of  you  to  come  and  meet 
me.  Have  you  any  baggage?  No?  So  much  the  better. 
Come  on — the  train  is  going  to  pull  out." 

Ewald  Wiskotten  sprang  from  the  compartment.  "  But 
this  is  only  Elberfeld ;  I  was  going  on  to  Barmen." 

"  I  thought  you  might  like  to  walk  with  me  across  the 
valley  instead.  I  took  the  chance  of  meeting  you  on  this 
train  and  came  over.  Does  that  suit  you?  " 

"  Wasn't  your  real  reason  that  you  wanted  to  give  me 
a  chance  to  pull  myself  together?  " 

"  No,  old  fellow !  I  was  not  worried  about  that.  But 
I  did  want  you  to  see  the  valley — see  it  all  again  in  its 
workaday  clothes,  the  smoke  of  its  chimneys,  the  roar  of 
its  machinery.  Then  you'll  be  able  to  descend  into  it 
again  without  feeling  strange." 

"  It  was  thoughtful  of  you  to  try  to  make  the  return 
easier." 

As  they  walked  through  the  streets  of  Elberfeld,  Ewald 
stopped  before  a  house  and  asked,  "  Do  you  know  who 
lives  here  ?  " 

"I  haven't  the  slightest  idea!" 

"  My  honored  colleague,  the  artist,  Weert.  Shall  I  go 
up  and  see  him  ?  " 

"  If  it  will  not  upset  you." 

"  I  don't  think  so;  just  for  five  minutes,  if  you'll  wait. 
I  must  see  for  myself  if  there  are  still  people  in  existence 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  361 

who  can  go  on  mourning  for  lost  ideals  instead  of  creat- 
ing new  ones." 

"  People  who  never  had  any  genuine  ideals,  you  mean." 

Ewald  ran  up  the  steps  and  rang  the  bell.  The  same 
slovenly  maid  opened  the  door  and  let  him  pass  into  the 
studio  without  announcing  him.  Here  too  everything 
was  the  same.  In  the  midst  of  a  waste  of  incongruous  rub- 
bish stood  a  divan,  and  on  it  the  gray-haired  man  dreamed 
away  the  daylight  hours.  From  an  easel  Van  Dyck's  gra- 
cious "  Marchesa  Spinola  "  smiled  down  on  the  old  vaga- 
bond— who  had  once  mistaken  his  youthful  enthusiasm  for 
talent,  and  who  had  squandered  his  gifts  then  as  now, 
till  nothing  remained  to  him  but  this  copy  of  another's 
greatness. 

The  young  man  stood  and  looked  at  him  thoughtfully. 
The  drink-inflamed  face  was  half  buried  in  the  cushion,  as 
if  trying  to  escape  from  something.  There  was  a  pitiful 
contrast  between  the  noble  outline  of  the  features  and  their 
telltale  coloring. 

"  Perhaps  he's  dreaming  now,"  said  Ewald  to  himself, 
"  that  he  really  made  the  most  of  his  talents  in  his  youth, 
and  has  no  need  to  lie  and  sham  to  people  in  his  old  age. 
It  must  be  terrible  to  realize  that  he  is  so  much  less  than 
he  pretends  to  be !  No,  I  will  not  waken  him.  The  best 
use  the  poor  old  fellow  can  make  of  his  time  now  is  to 
dream  it  away." 

He  tiptoed  to  the  door.  The  "  Marchesa  "  smiled  at 
him,  and  he  whispered  back,  "  I'll  reach  you  yet !  I'll 
find  the  road  to  your  beauty,  and  all  the  beauty  of  the 
world,  even  though  it  must  be  by  a  different  way." 

"  Well,  are  you  any  wiser,  Ewald?  " 

"  Wiser?  Yes,  if  wisdom  means  knowledge  of  one's 
goal." 

"  Do  you  know  what  Moltke  said  once  in  the  German 


362  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

Reichstag?  '  In  its  own  strength,  in  that  alone,  rests 
the  fate  of  a  nation.'  That  applies  equally  to  the  in- 
dividual." 

"  And  I  have  learned  my  own  by  now.  There  is  no 
more  danger  of  self-deception  for  me,  though  I  may  still 
hope  for  surprises." 

"  May  they  be  happy  ones ! " 

"  They  must  be  what  we  ourselves  prepare ;  nothing  is 
accidental." 

"  Look  there,  across  the  street !  Isn't  that  Korten 
and  his  wife?"  He  nodded  to  the  old  couple.  "They 
have  stopped ;  we  must  go  over  and  speak  to  them." 

"  Good  day !  Good  day,  gentlemen !  Is  not  that  your 
brother,  Herr  Wiskotten?  Yes,  of  course,  I  remember 
him.  I  have  him  to  thank  for  a  wonderful  hour  of  in- 
spiration, and  my  memory  guards  such  hours  as  its  great- 
est treasures.  Just  now  I  was  thinking  of  Bismarck." 

"  And  we  were  speaking  of  Moltke." 

"That  is  well.  These  names,  sacred  to  the  Father- 
land, should  always  be  on  men's  lips.  But  as  I  was  about 
to  tell  you — I  once  stood  before  the  living  Bismarck  in  the 
Sachsenwald." 

"  You  visited  Bismarck?  " 

"  Yes,  my  young  friends,  your  old  Korten  spoke  one 
Easter  with  the  great  '  Forger  of  the  Empire.'  " 

"  He  said  a  dreadful  thing  about  me  too,"  put  in  the 
little  old  woman. 

"  I  can  hardly  believe  that,  Frau  Korten ! "  said  Paul, 
soothingly. 

"  My  dear  helpmate,"  the  old  man  hastened  to  ex- 
plain, "  cannot  or  will  not  understand  that  humor  is  one 
of  the  great  joys  of  life.  Therefore,  the  great  of  this 
earth  are  fond  of  jests." 

"  Just  tell  them  what  you  said,"  insisted  the  old  woman. 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  363 

"  Yes,  yes,  Herr  Korten !  A  woman's  word  is  law.  Out 
with  it  all." 

"  Listen,  then,  my  young  friends.  I  was  one  of  a  depu- 
tation of  literary  men  that  were  sent  to  the  Sachsenwald 
from  a  number  of  German  towns.  Amid  its  great  oaks, 
the  Prince,  German's  stateliest  oak,  received  us.  One  of 
our  number  addressed  him  for  the  rest.  The  Prince  re- 
plied in  a  clear,  sonorous  voice.  Then  he  chatted  famil- 
iarly with  each  of  us,  and  I  saw  that  he  desired  to  test 
the  wit  of  these  representatives  of  German  poetry.  Sud- 
denly his  eye  met  mine;  the  great  Bismarck's  eye,  gen- 
tlemen! And  he  put  his  hand  in  mine;  yes,  Bismarck's 
hand  lay  in  mine !  " 

"  You  should  be  proud  of  that,  Frau  Korten ! " 

"  Just  wait  till  he  finishes."  The  aged  poet  chuckled. 
"  We  had  the  badges  of  our  literary  society  on  our  coats. 
A  golden  knight  with  his  lance  in  rest.  The  Prince 
touched  the  badge  on  my  lapel  and  asked, '  What  does  that 
represent?  '  *  Saint  George  and  the  Dragon,  Your  High- 
ness.' *  Yes,  yes  ! '  said  Bismarck,  and  winked  at  me,  *  but 
where  is  the  dragon? '  *  We  left  those  at  home,  Your 
Highness ! '  said  I," — and  the  old  man  nudged  his  wife 
mischievously. 

"  But  that  was  a  clever  retort,  Frau  Korten  t "  laughed 
the  Wiskottens.  "  You  think  so  because  it  did  not  hit  you. 
Tell  me,  now,  what  must  Bismarck  think  of  me?  " 

"  I'll  write  and  explain  it  to  him  myself,"  said  Paul 
Wiskotten,  seeing  that  her  feelings  were  really  hurt. 
"  And  I'll  add  that  he  must  not  believe  all  your  husband 
says,  because  he  is  a  poet." 

"  That  would  not  do  any  harm,"  she  replied,  in  all 
earnestness,  as  they  parted. 

"  When  that  old  fellow  gets  to  heaven  it's  going  to  cause 
a  great  deal  of  confusion." 


364  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

"Why?" 

"  He  has  lived  in  such  a  state  of  sinless  innocence  on 
earth  that  they  will  find  it  difficult  to  improve  on  it 
there." 

"  He  has  in  excess  the  ideals  that  are  lacking  in 
Weert." 

"  He  has  nothing  but  ideals.  For  the  Republic  or  the 
Monarchy,  in  praise  of  Summer  or  Winter,  he  sweeps  the 
same  strings,  evokes  the  same  music  from  his  poet's 
lyre." 

"  There  must  be  progress  in  life,  Paul.  It  does  not  mat- 
ter so  much  in  what  direction,  so  long  as  our  energies 
are  not  wasted." 

They  came  to  the  confines  of  Barmen,  and  walked  more 
briskly.  The  whole  family  would  be  assembled  and  wait- 
ing for  them  by  now. 

"Is  there  still  time  for  another  little  visit,  Paul?" 
asked  Ewald,  as  they  reached  the  market  place  in  the 
center  of  the  town.  "  Please  say  yes.  I  want  to  say  good 
day  at  Kolsch's." 

"  Kolsch  is  still  at  the  factory ;  it  is  not  time  for  him 
to  be  home  yet." 

"  I  wanted  to  see  Anna  too." 

Paul  looked  at  his  brother  and  gave  a  meaning  laugh, 
then  turned  down  the  street  that  led  to  Kolsch's  house. 
Ernst  opened  the  door. 

"  You  here,  Ernst?    Are  you  taking  a  vacation?  " 

"  No  such  luck !    I  have  to  go  to  Italy." 

"  You  have  to?  " 

"  Well,  I  never  wanted  to,  but  my  time  must  have  come. 
Somehow  the  Roman  scholarship  has  fallen  into  my  lap. 
A  grave  omen." 

"  You're  going  to  Rome,  then?  " 

"  Didn't  you  just  hear  me  say  I  had  to  go?  " 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  365 

"  Now  do  be  serious,  Ernst,  and  tell  us  how  it  all 
happened." 

"  Well,  the  competition  for  the  scholarship  was  opened, 
the  idea*  of  some  benevolent  soul  to  encourage  industry 
and  emulation  among  the  students.  Our  '  prize  '  students 
immediately  plunged  into  a  mad  orgy  of  color,  but  no 
one  was  able  to  read  a  word  of  promise  from  all  their 
canvases.  The  professor  called  Heaven  to  witness  that 
he  had  refrained  from  murder,  in  spite  of  the  provoca- 
tion. He  must  have  seen  that  I  sympathized  with  him, 
for  he  attacked  me  suddenly  with:  *  You  could  do  some- 
thing— you  have  talent  if  you  would  only  try ! '  To  prove 
to  the  excited  man  that  he  was  altogether  wrong,  I  took 
a  fresh  canvas  and  set  to  work.  He  was  too  stubborn 
to  admit  the  truth,  however — called  his  colleagues  to- 
gether, and  they  gave  me  the  prize.  I  must  leave  here 
tomorrow." 

Ewald  shook  his  hand  vigorously.  "  I  congratulate  you, 
Ernst,  from  the  bottom  of  my  heart ! " 

"  How  would  you  like  to  be  in  my  place,  old  fellow?  " 

"  I  belong  in  my  own  place.  Nor  does  that  close  the 
road  to  Rome  for  me." 

"  Bravo,  Ewald !  Now  you  have  the  right  viewpoint  on 
art.  Be  it  canvas  or  fashion  plate — it's  the  ability  that 
counts." 

"Is  Anna  at  home?" 

"  In  the  kitchen.     Come  in." 

"  Ewald  has  another  engagement ;  we  must  be  going 
at  once.  There  is  a  family  reunion  at  our  house, 
today." 

"  Very  well.  You  know  your  way  about  this  house, 
Ewald."  Ewald  was  already  in  the  hall;  opened  a  door 
and  entered  the  kitchen. 

"  Anna,  Anna  dear !  " 


366  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

She  turned  quickly,  with  bright,  glad  eyes,  and  flung 
her  arms  around  his  neck.  "  Boy — my  boy !  " 

"  I  just  had  to  see  you !  Now  a  kiss,  quick !  My  Anna ! 
Now  I'm  off  to  the  family." 

"  You  are  going  to  your  parents  ?  " 

"  It's  father's  birthday." 

"  I  am  so  glad,"  she  said,  stroking  his  hair. 

"  Do  carry  it  off  well." 

"  Don't  you  worry  about  me." 

"  Indeed,  I  sha'n't.  Especially  when  I'm  so  near  at 
hand." 

"  Do  you  really  love  me,  Anna  ?  Will  you  always  ?  " 
She  took  his  face  between  her  hands,  and  her  girlish  lips 
silenced  his  questions. 

"  Don't  ask  such  silly  questions.  You're  the  only  one 
in  the  world  for  me,  even  if  you  cause  me  nothing  but 
care." 

"  I  want  to  make  you  proud  of  me  now  and  always." 

"  A  woman  who  is  not  proud  of  her  husband  does  not 
know  what  love  means." 

"  Even  if  he  has  faults,  makes  mistakes — and  I  have 
made  so  many." 

"  Give  them  all  to  me,  all  those  faults  and  mistakes. 
It  shall  be  mine  to  make  the  world  accept  them  as  virtues." 

"  You  always  were  a  little  mother  to  me." 

"  I  shall  be  no  less  as  your  wife." 

Paul  called  from  outside.  They  must  not  be  late  to- 
day. Anna  urged  Ewald  to  go.  "  You  can  come  again 
tomorrow,  Ewald.  Then  we  can  make  our  plans !  " 

"  You  are  the  central  point  of  them  all." 

"  No,  you!  " 

"  They  are  both  the  same.  Good  night,  my  Anna. 
Think  of  me  tonight." 

"  By  day  and  night." 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  367 

He  kissed  her  hand,  and  she  answered  with  a  kiss  on 
his  mouth.  He  held  her  at  arm's  length,  his  head  thrown 
back,  his  eyes  narrowed  as  if  contemplating  a  rare  old 
master,  then  drew  her  to  him  almost  roughly.  "  Till  to- 
morrow ! " 

At  the  front  door  he  took  leave  of  Ernst  Kolsch. 

"  You  may  expect  to  see  me  in  Italy  too,  if  only  for 
a  short  time.  While  you  make  a  study  of  the  Roman 
girls  of  today,  I'll  be  studying  their  rare  old  laces  and 
the  ancient  ornaments  in  the  museums.  Good  luck, 
Ernst!" 

"  An  revoir,  Ewald !  We  two  have  our  work  cut  out 
for  us." 

All  the  immediate  family  were  gathered  at  the  elder 
Wiskottens,  awaiting  them.  The  friends  of  the  family, 
among  others  Pastor  Schirrmacher,  had  come  during  the 
breakfast  hour  and  gone  before  this.  Now  the  door 
opened  and  Ewald  entered,  followed  by  Paul.  A  momen- 
tary silence  fell,  all  eyes  were  turned  on  them,  and  Mabel 
raised  her  lorgnon.  Without  looking  to  right  or  left, 
Ewald  advanced  straight  to  his  father  with  outstretched 
hand. 

"  Many  happy  returns,  Father !  " 

The  old  man  held  his  son's  hand  fast  in  his  own,  pat- 
ted it,  looked  up  at  his  youngest,  and  laughed  contentedly. 

"  Mother,  see,  here  is  our  Ewald  too " 

"  Don't  get  up,  Mother !  Yes,  here  I  am.  Are  you 
well,  Mother?  Father  gets  younger-looking  every  day." 

"  Another  quarter  of  an  hour  and  you'd  have  had  to 
eat  scraps."  She  listened  a  moment;  her  deaf  ears  had 
caught  a  titter.  "  I'd  like  to  know  what  you  find  to  laugh 
at,  Gustav?  If  I  say  a  thing  it's  because  it's  so." 

"  Certainly,  Mother." 

"  You  must  be  very  hungry,  boy  ?  " 


368  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

"  They  don't  know  how  to  cook  like  you  in  Diisscl- 
dorf,  Mother." 

"  I  can  believe  that.  New-fangled  art  may  be  all  right 
in  the  factory,  but  not  in  housekeeping.  Now,  say  good 
day  to  the  others." 

Ewald  greeted  them  all.  Everyone  shook  his  hand  cor- 
dially and  said,  "  Good  day,  Ewald !  "  When  he  came  to 
Mabel  he  blushed  and  stammered,  "  I'm  Ewald  Wiskotten." 

"  I  have  already  had  the  pleasure  of  meeting  you,"  said 
that  irrepressible  tease. 

"  I  did  not  know "  stammered  Ewald,  still  more 

embarrassed. 

"  Yes,  indeed,  and  you  threw  your  visiting  card  into 
my  carriage." 

The  unhappy  lad  suddenly  recalled  Anna's  admonition 
to  carry  it  off  well.  He  bowed  low  and  asked,  in  his  best 
manner :  "  May  I  have  the  pleasure  of  taking  you  to  the 
lunch  table?" 

"  I'm  not  a  bit  vexed  with  you,"  she  said  to  him,  as  they 
took  their  seats  at  the  table.  "  I  had  heard  such  tales 
of  the  furor  teutonicus,  and  then  you  arranged  that  little 
revolution  for  my  benefit,  just  as  if  you  knew  and  wanted 
to  satisfy  my  secret  wish.  That  was  an  act  of  knightly 
courtesy." 

"  We  go  into  such  furious  rage  only  when  we  are  un- 
happy." 

"  You  are  not  the  finest  people  in  the  world,  even  when 
you're  happy." 

"  That  depends.  For  instance,  if  I  were  allowed  to  call 
you  by  your  Christian  name " 

"  Would  you  do  it  quietly  or " 

"  When  one  prays  one  never  shouts." 

"  Bravo,  little  brother !  You  were  the  one  thing  lack- 
ing to  my  happiness  in  my  new  family." 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  369 

Gustav,  as  the  eldest,  had  the  seat  of  honor  beside  his 
father.  He  touched  the  old  man's  glass  with  his  own  and 
cried :  "  Your  health,  Father !  May  you  live  to  see  a 
thousand  and  more  birthdays  !  " 

"  Thanks,  Gustav ;  I  hardly  have  use  for  so  many. 
Your  health,  Gustav.  I  drink  to  all  of  you  here." 

That  was  the  customary  birthday  toast  here;  that 
was  all,  as  the  Wiskottens  were  not  great  speech  makers. 
When  August  rose  from  his  seat,  cleared  his  throat,  and 
loosened  his  collar  with  a  nervous  forefinger,  "  This 

time "  he  began,  "  this  time  I  cannot  let  father's 

birthday  go  by  without  an  especially  serious  announce- 
ment." 

"Mother,  where  is  the  hymnal?" 

"  Fritz,  hold  your  tongue,  you  irreverent  fellow ! " 

"  Steady,  August !  Don't  pay  any  attention  to  him. 
What  is  this  '  serious  announcement.'  " 

August  bit  his  lips  and  continued. 

"  The  day  on  which  one  takes  a  decisive  step  is  a 
serious,  and  in  a  sense  a  consecrated,  one.  Today  I  can 
promise  this  too  masculine  household  a  new  daughter,  a 
new  sister.  This  morning  I  formally  asked  the  hand  in 
marriage  of  Pastor  Grossmann's  only  daughter.  Father 
and  daughter  have  found  me  acceptable." 

Old  Frau  Wiskotten  sat  bolt  upright  in  her  chair;  de- 
spite her  habitual  self-repression,  her  hands  trembled  visi- 
bly. In  her  stern  face  too  a  great  joy  was  to  be  read — 
her  family  was  to  be  united  by  still  another  bond  to  the 
pastorate  of  the  valley.  August's  oldest  son  would  surely 
be  destined  to  fill  the  pulpit— a  Wiskotten ! 

Father  and  mother  grasped  their  son's  hand,  and  Fritz 
was  only  a  moment  behind  them.  "  Forgive  my  lack  of 
tact,  August.  I  had  no  idea  of  this.  I  wish  you  all  good 


370  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

luck.  Tomorrow,  the  first  thing,  I  shall  call  on  your 
fiancee  with  the  finest  bouquet  money  can  buy." 

"  My  betrothed  will  appreciate  that,  I  am  sure." 

Emily  leaned  affectionately  against  Gustav's  shoulder. 

"  We're  celebrating  our  real  betrothal  too,  now ! "  he 
whispered.  Then  he  raised  his  glass  and  proposed  a 
toast,  and  a  "  Hoch  "  for  Fraulein  Grossmann.  In  the 
midst  of  the  merry  babel  that  followed  Ewald's  voice  was 
heard :  "  I  should  like  permission  to  make  a  business  an- 
nouncement." 

"  Send  the  maid  out,  Mother." 

"  August,  shut  the  door."  An  expectant  silence  fell. 
They  all  knew  that  now  was  not  the  time  for  idle  chatter. 
Ewald  had  the  floor  and  began  at  once :  "  Each  of  you  has 
added  something  to  the  progress  and  prosperity  of  the 
factory.  Gustav  as  organizer,  August  with  his  natural 
business  ability,  William  as  salesman  for  our  goods,  and 
Fritz  with  his  chemical  inventions.  Of  our  parents,  who 
laid  the  foundations  for  all  this,  I  need  not  speak.  Only 
Paul  and  I  have  as  yet  done  nothing.  But  that  is  the 
fault  of  our  youth ;  you  must  not  blame  our  artistic  tend- 
encies. We  are  of  the  same  blood  as  our  elder  brothers. 
And,  being  so,  we  also  have  our  talents,  those  very  artistic 
tendencies  that  you  have  all  regretted  in  us.  They  too 
need  only  be  applied  in  the  right  way  to  add  materially 
to  the  advancement  of  the  factory.  I  trust  you'll  take 
my  first  attempts  at  pattern  making  as  a  slight  proof  of 
this.  Paul  and  I  now  claim  this  field  wherein  to  do  our 
share  for  the  firm." 

Then  in  clear,  incisive  phrases  he  outlined  their  plans 
for  a  stylebook  that  was  to  interest  the  public  at  large 
and  keep  them  in  touch  with  the  novelties  of  the  Wiskot- 
ten  factory.  "  I  want  to  travel  for  the  next  two  years,  to 
study  all  there  is  of  art  to  be  found  in  the  various  textile 


SONS  OF  THE  RHINE  371 

industries,  study  and  master  it  all.  But  that  need  not 
delay  the  launching  of  our  new  project  at  all.  Here  is 
a  sample  proof  sheet  that  we  have  already  worked  up. 
It  should  please  plain  housewives  as  well  as  society  la- 
dies, for  both  are  represented  here,  and  their  needs  con- 
sidered. Every  one  of  them  can  find  something  suitable 
in  the  output  of  the  Wiskotten  factory.  The  smaller 
drawings  give  the  pattern  and  other  details  of  the  orna- 
mental trimmings  used  in  the  large  plates.  The  chatty, 
explanatory  text  is  Paul's  part  of  the  work.  Here, 
examine  it  closer." 

The  sheet  passed  from  hand  to  hand,  the  women  peep- 
ing eagerly  over  their  husbands'  shoulders. 

"  That's  something  entirely  new.  A  brave  stroke ! 
Well,  aren't  we  young  and  lusty  enough  for  such  brave 
strokes  ?  "  Frau  Wiskotten  looked  at  the  patterns  in- 
tently. "  Well,"  she  said,  finally,  "  that's  not  a  waste  of 
paint  and  time.  That's  solid,  useful  work;  and  work 
always  carries  a  blessing." 

"  Tomorrow  we'll  hold  a  business  meeting  in  the  private 
office,"  announced  Gustav.  "  This  demands  a  rearrange- 
ment of  departments  and  their  heads."  The  brothers 
readily  agreed. 

"  Out  in  the  world  centers  of  commerce  they  are  be- 
moaning the  decay  of  private  industries  and  the  rise  of  the 
trusts.  I  tell  you  the  only  possible  rival  of  those  trusts, 
the  supertrust,  is  the  family.  Here  we  are,  six  strong 
men,  partners  and  fellow  workers.  If  each  were  to  take 
his  share  of  our  joint  inheritance  and  go  out  into  the 
world  for  himself,  what  then?  Even  if  he  succeeded, 
to  be  consistent  he  must  divide  his  own  fortune  among 
the  next  generation.  Can  you  tell  me  for  a  moment  that 
none  of  this  scattered  clan  would  fall  upon  evil  days  and 
suffer?  It  is  this  that  made  the  family  a  bulwark  of 


373  SONS  OF  THE  RHINE 

strength  in  the  past,  and  it  should  be  our  aim  and  pride 
to  foster  this  bond  of  kinship  in  our  own  day.  Each  in- 
dividual member  of  a  family  cannot  hope  to  be  a  genius, 
not  even  if  he  be  a  Wiskotten.  But  together  we  are 
the  Wiskottens — a  match  for  any  lone  genius  that  ever 
lived." 

There  was  a  moment  of  silence  in  the  room,  eyes  seek- 
ing eyes  in  glad  sympathy.     Then  old  Wiskotten  raised 
his  glass  and  drank  silently  to  the  happiest  birthday  he 
had  ever  known.     The  mother  spoke  solemnly. 
"  You  have  said  something  very  true,  Gustav." 
"  You  may  put  your  faith  in  that,  Mother !    The  Wis- 
kotten family  will  stand  together  to  the  end !  "  rang  simul- 
taneously from  six  throats. 

The  younger  boys  accompanied  Gustav  and  Emily  home, 
but  these  two  lovers  walked  hand  in  hand,  with  no  thought 
for  anyone  else.  As  Paul  and  Ewald  parted  from  them 
at  their  door,  they  turned  by  common  consent  up  the 
steep  street  that  led  out  of  the  town  and  up  to  the  heights 
where  they  had  stood  together  once  before.  Below  them 
lay  the  selfsame  picture.  The  swart  giant  Labor  lay 
asleep  in  the  valley,  veiled  in  silvery  moonlight — no  spin- 
ner of  fairy  tales  for  the  few,  but  the  beneficent  giver  of 
life  and  toil  to  the  many. 

"  Do  you  see  the  beauty  of  it — now?  " 

"  Yes,  Paul,  I  have  learned  to  see  it  at  last." 


THE  END 


University  of  California 

SOUTHERN  REGIONAL  LIBRARY  FACILITY 

405  Hilgard  Avenue,  Los  Angeles,  CA  90024-1388 

Return  this  material  to  the  library 

from  which  it  was  borrowed. 


